Chapter 1 — Chapter 1

It all started when I found out I had a grandfather, though I had no inkling of his existence until I was forty. As it soon turned out, he had spent his entire life as a witcher, which came as a real shock in our modern world. When I went to pay my respects at his grave and thank him for the inheritance he left, I myself died of a sudden heart attack while accepting his magical gift and becoming a full-fledged witch. But let's take it from the beginning...

***

On that day, everything was slipping from my hands, and I was plagued by some premonitions, leaving me distracted. As it happened, I forgot to buy bread, which I only realized after preparing dinner and waiting for my husband to come home from work. That's why I had to go to the store, rushing out in my shorts and an old stretched-out t-shirt, throwing on a long cardigan over it since the grocery store was in the next building. After getting the bread, I thought about stopping by a nearby bakery to get something for tea and treat my family.

Recently, our budget had significantly decreased because my husband's salary was cut, forcing me to look for a second job, and then a third. As I rounded the corner of the building and crossed the street, I noticed my husband's car in the parking lot and froze, watching him jump out of the car and offer his hand to someone in the driver's seat. A young, well-groomed woman emerged from the car, holding a huge bouquet and smiling as she pressed herself against my husband. He hugged her around the waist and kissed her, not at all a friendly kiss, and his hand, resting on her waist, slid down and squeezed her buttocks.

"I can't wait until we get home, honey. Let's buy something sweet?" I heard the stranger's voice.

"Kitten, anything for you! I'll get your favorite pastries right now!"

"Do you remember which ones are my favorite?" Unable to hold back, I stepped out from behind the car.

"Honey, who is this woman?" the girl asked. The stranger's thin eyebrows shot up, and my husband seemed taken aback, looking at me.

"I'm his wife, married for seventeen years now… Our son will be sixteen soon," I introduced myself, looking at the woman.

"Sweetie, didn't you say you were divorced?" she asked my husband in confusion.

"Oh, don't worry, darling. He'll definitely be divorced now! So, that's how your salary got cut, huh?" I went on the offensive.

"Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? What do you look like!" my husband retorted, finally coming to life.

"When am I supposed to take care of myself? I'm working two jobs because you supposedly had your salary reduced! So, my dear, don't think you've snagged a prince! He's been taking money from our family, the jerk! He abandoned our son!"

"Shut up, you old hen!" he snapped.

My husband was visibly angry, but I had no intention of stopping.

"I don't wish you happiness! And you won't have it! You won't have children either, because such bastards shouldn't reproduce!" I continued angrily, ignoring his attempts to interrupt me. At some point, it felt like something invisible detached from me with my words, like a cloud, and then flew towards the couple. I felt a slight sway, and turning sharply, I headed back home.

Once back, I went into the kitchen, sat at the table, leaned on it, and burst into tears. My son, alarmed, rushed in and started shaking my shoulder.

"Mom, what's wrong? Are you in pain?" he asked.

"My soul and heart hurt, Stasik. Your father is seeing someone else, and all the money goes to her, as it turns out. I, the fool, have been wearing myself out with multiple jobs, while he..."

"Mom, I knew. I'm sorry, but I saw them once and was afraid to tell you. That's why I haven't been talking to dad..." he confessed, putting his arm around my shoulders.