"That girl belongs to the cursed family." Whispers always surrounded her. Sometimes she wondered if they even really tried to hide it. "Do you think she has it too?" The small group of adults hid their mouths behind their hands but the young girl and her father and mother still heard every word. She wanted to turn around and correct them. Tell them they weren't cursed, but her father tugged her along. "No one's been born with it since Agata." Both men and women spoke. The young child hung her head. Was her family so ill thought of that they didn't even deserve respect for her grandmother who had passed just hours ago?
The small family walked through the town. Silent and quick. Today they had but one purpose to tell the priest of her grandmother's passing and perform the death rituals before her soul left. As the child thought of this tears welled up in her eyes once more. How was she suppose to say goodbye? How was she suppose to let her grandmother's soul go with such a terrifying figure such as their god of death? She bit her lip, however, saying nothing. It wasn't her role to question their ways.
Hours passed and the rituals were over. Now her father and a few other men from the family helped move the body to its final resting place. She stood outside their family home in the garden watching from afar. She was told to stay there and kept quiet. Now wasn't the time for pointless questions and sorrowful words of passing. Not when the whole town gathered round their home to see if any of the newer generations could "see" the dead.
When the courtyard of their family home was cleared the girl, Nikoleta, kneeled in the flowers her grandmother had tended for so long. Her small arms wrapped around her knees and tears spilled from her eyes yet again. Her body shook with the effort to try and hid her sobs. It seemed like time passed slowly for her as she wallowed in her sorrow. It wasn't until a blue butterfly fluttered past her face did she calm any. It had taken her by surprise and her brown eyes followed its movements as it weaved around her. The creature seemed to be trying to comfort her. Or so it seemed to such a young child. The butterfly flew closer to her before quickly changing path and floated away. She still followed it with her gaze until she saw a lanky man hold out his hand for the bug. It gingerly landed in his hand and he turned to walk away, but not before catching her staring at him. She wanted to call out and ask who he as, but before she could she heard her mother's voice. "Nikoleta! Hurry inside already." She turned to the voice before turning back to an empty scene.
The child didn't think much on her encounter. And would soon try and forget about it. However the man would remember it well.