Well

Let me explain

You see….
I know that it's unwise to believe in magic, especially in desperate circumstances.
But I needed the magic to be real
I NEEDED to have some miracle of God or Devil.
You see, the drought
There had been a terrible drought.
And all of the stores had run out of the bottled stuff.

She’d been…..

I’m sorry, I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.

“She” is the Witch of the Wood. I know that sounds silly, like something out of a children’s book.

But in my town, there’s a woman known as “the Witch of the Wood”

She lives in a dear little cottage in the country, just a mile outside of Maryland. People travel from all over for her remedies and her soaps, shampoos and essential oil blends.

But, I think the most Mysterious of her gifts is the big water well that resides in her yard. It’s like something you’d see in a fairly tale, all stone, with a roof above it that looks like a mushroom cap, red with white spots. It’s really quite adorable, and if you didn’t know better, you’d assume that’s all is was: adorable.

I went to the Witch.

I had hoped that maybe she had answers. That maybe she could solve the drought

I was a desperate man.

She just smiled at me, and led me to the little well. She took a large ladle that hung on a hook on the mushroom roof. She filled a large jug of water, and handed it to me.

“Come back when you need more” She’d said, and took my money.

When I tell you that this water tasted like candy, I want you to understand my meaning. It wasn’t just that water was scarce, this water seemed to have some sort of power to it. When I drank it tasted like lemonade with vodka. Or a vanilla milkshake with bourbon. I don’t know how to describe it other than, it was unbelievably delicious. And I felt so strong afterwards.

Like, like I could lift a car with ease. Like I could move a mountain with just a flick of the wrist.

I tried to ration my jug, I really did. I couldn’t help myself! After 3 days, I returned to her with payment. She gladly gave me more of the sweet water, this time though, in a smaller jug.

“Is there something wrong?” I asked, thinking that perhaps she was running out of large jugs

“Nothing is wrong. That is your jug” She held out her hand for payment.

I assume that it was a means of keeping me rationed. I assumed she did it with everyone who came to her for water.

But then…..

I suppose I don’t have to tell you that it wasn’t long before I was coming to her everyday. Everyday I would come to her home in the country, and I would give her money and she’d give me a jug.

I tried to ignore

That every time I returned the jug was slightly smaller.

Then one day

She stopped saying “Come back” and would just hand me the jug and say “Go”

The last time I came to get a jug was…..it was different.

She was standing on her step as though she’d been expecting me. I greeted her with a smile, but she didn’t smile back.

“Why have you come?” her tone was different. Even more harsh than the last time I’d come.

“I’m….here for more water? From the well?” I couldn’t believe the shakiness in my voice, I sounded like a frightened child.

“Leave” She howled, so deeply I was sure thunder could be created in her throat. “You have taken everything you deserve from the Well. There is no more left for you”

“How can there suddenly be no more water left for me? How is it possible that the INFINITE Well suddenly has no water left?”

Her hands came to clasp one another in front of her torso.

“I said there is no water left for YOU” I felt all the blood rush into my face

“I was worthy enough when you were taking my money, wasn’t I? How come all of a sudden I’m not worthy? I call Bullshit. Capitalism dictates you shut up and take my money” I continued towards her.

“STOP RIGHT THERE! IF YOU COME ANY CLOSER YOU WILL LIVE TO REGRET IT” All I could think about was this water, this Well, I looked down at my jug in hand. The one she’d seemingly taken from me week after week, day after day

I saw how small it had become.

“I am drinking from that Well” I tried to sound firm, but I could hear a shake in my voice.

“Don’t touch the Well! I’m warning you! The powers that be have spoken, and I’m telling you you’d be a fool not to listen!”

I tried to ignore her, but as I walked around the house I could feel the weight of her body catapult into mine.

“THERE IS NOTHING LEFT FOR YOU HERE! LEAVE NOW, OR I’LL CALL THE LAW”

I….

I can’t explain what happened I just sort of….

She was attacking me you see…

I threw her off of me.

She was so strong for such a little thing….I can barely remember it

It wasn’t my fault, it was an accident.

When I checked her pulse….There was nothing for me to do then…..it was too late.

So I figured I might as well, right? Well...ha….ytr

All I have is this tiny little jug, all I have is…..

I really need it, so badly

I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be here. Please stop looking at me like that

I’m asking you

Begging you please

I know what this looks like. I know what you must be thinking

I realize this must be your first time here, I can clearly see that it is

I don’t want to get violent with you, but you see once you kill someone it kinda gets easier to do it again, I’m not afraid to crack your head over that beautiful stone

Please,

just…..hand over your jug…...

 

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