No one from Elena's old life in Calendra replied to her messages. Not her apartment neighbors, not her officemates, not even her favorite barista at the café downstairs who once promised her free coffee if she ever came in with a job promotion. Her inbox was painfully silent, and every unanswered message felt like a door slowly closing behind her.
The days dragged on. Her energy seemed to drain little by little, like a leaking faucet no one could fix. At random times of the day, her thoughts would go completely blank. It was as if her mind would hit a wall, a strange fog clouding her ability to focus, to feel, to remember.
She would sometimes hear her parents whispering in the other room. Their voices were always muffled, but Elena could sense their worry. She could imagine the hushed tones as they exchanged regrets. Maybe they blamed themselves for letting her go to Calendra in the first place. Maybe they thought she wasn't strong enough to live on her own after all.
One morning, while staring out the window in her faded pajamas, she saw a black car park outside their home. A tall, older man stepped out — dignified, with an aura that made the neighborhood go still. The Grand Elder. Her parents came out to greet him with deep bows of respect.
Elena didn't join them. She watched from behind the curtain, a strange unease bubbling in her chest. The Grand Elder's face looked familiar, but distant — like a figure from a dream she couldn't quite place. She'd never spoken to him, yet something about his presence made her heart beat just a little faster. Not from fear, but from a recognition she couldn't explain.
The next morning, her mother gently shook her awake.
"Elena, we're going to see someone," her mother said softly, brushing hair from Elena's forehead. "An old healer in the mountains. She can help you feel better."
Elena didn't argue. She didn't have the energy to. Dressed in a loose cotton dress and slippers, she allowed herself to be guided into the family car. They drove out of Denara, past the bustling town proper, then up a winding dirt road surrounded by trees and mist.
The healer's home sat on a quiet slope, wrapped in greenery. Dogs napped under the shade of mango trees. Cats stretched out lazily on the wooden porch. The smell of burning herbs lingered in the air like a warm blanket. The old healer lives in a rickety wooden house, but it looked strong, like it has endured generations of being weathered down by the mountain's climate.
The old woman who opened the door was tiny and wrinkled, her gray hair tied into a bun. She smiled at Elena with eyes that seemed to see right through her. She exuded an aura of wisdom and strength, but she welcomed Elena and her parents with such humility and softness.
"She has something stuck to her spirit," the healer murmured to Elena's parents. "Something not of her choosing. Come in quick, we will get this sorted out as soon as possible."
They entered the hut. It was dim and filled with trinkets, candles, and the sound of wind chimes. The healer gestured for Elena to lie down on a straw mat. Her mother knelt nearby, whispering encouragement. Elena lay down on the mat and felt the weight of her body give way to the floor beneath her.
The healer lit some candles and said prayers to the Spirits. She then placed her hands gently on Elena's head and began pressing and massaging. Her fingers were firm but careful, moving from the scalp to her neck and shoulders. With every touch, it was as if knots she didn't even know existed began to unravel.
Then came the energetic work.
The healer whispered words in an old language Elena didn't recognize. Her fingers hovered over Elena's chest, then her abdomen. And suddenly — without warning — tears began to fall from Elena's eyes.
Not sobs. Just silent, unstoppable tears.
It felt like something heavy was finally being removed. Something deep. Something she couldn't name. The heaviness in her chest lightened. Her body trembled, and her vision blurred, but for the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe. Elena could feel that all of the heaviness and brain fog she's been experiencing had been taken away. For the first time in weeks, she gained some clarity and inner strength. She felt her power coming back to her.
The healer didn't explain much, only that Elena had been "touched" by something invisible. Something that was not meant to cling to her spirit. Her aura has been invaded by energetic entities that were feasting on her energy. The old healer did some energetic surgery, and the process of cleansing had begun.
"You must return," the old woman said, "for nine Tuesdays and nine Fridays. We must finish what we started. Follow this routine for the next nine weeks and you'll be able to get back on your feet."
Elena simply nodded. She didn't understand, but something in her gut told her this was right.
That night, for the first time in a long while, she slept through the night without waking up in panic. The buzzing in her head had dulled. Her thoughts, though still slow, were clearer. Elena felt free. It's like a heavy weight has been lifted off her shoulders. She needed this kind of clarity after being in the dark for so long.
She sat on her bed the next morning, sipping warm tea, when her phone buzzed.
It was Brenda.
After weeks of silence, the message was simple:
"Hey. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. A lot happened. I'm leaving Calendra for good. Can I visit you in Denara before I go?"
Elena stared at the message for a long time. Her fingers trembled as she typed back:
"Okay. When are you coming?"
Whatever had happened to her — whatever truths were still buried — maybe now, she would finally get some answers.