The Spell and the Burn
a free sci-fi short story by Erin Zarro This was the place. The school had stood here once, many years ago. The imprint of my trauma still lingered; I felt it in the wind. The Book had said to find a place with resonance. A place where the path of my life had completely changed. I took a breath, let it out. I didn’t want to remember, but for this to work, I had to face the memories. Afterward, my life hadn’t been horrible. I’d gone to college and had become a nurse. I had had a job at a prestigious medical center. I’d retired from there. My co-workers had thrown a huge retirement party for me. I’d gone home. I’d felt amazing. I’d done good in this world. I’d never married, but that had never bothered me. Until I’d found the Book. If I hadn’t been traumatized, hospitalized, and shunned by my peers …maybe someone would have loved me. I’d always felt wrong in my skin, completely unlovable. And then… I’d found the Book, and my life was about to change once again. Yes, this is the place where I’d do the ritual. I set the bag I’d bought on the grass and rummaged through it for my supplies. Salt for the magical circle. A pentagram necklace. A ceremonial blade. Candles. The sun was setting, and the sky became alive with multicolored hues and golden light. I…