An Unknown Sacrifice

If one were to walk down the road and past the empty plot that was never sold on Heartthorn Lane, he would have felt the most depressingly darkest aura surrounding an ironically bright house in his entire life. And in addition to the contrasting sight, he would have heard the recently wedded couple's heart wrenching cries of whatever misfortune was brought upon them during that time. Inside the living room of the couple's home was most definitely not a pleasant sight one would see. The interior furnishings of the room were fine, in fact one might call it stylish, but the displeasing sight was the status of the husband's spouse. With her disheveled auburn hair, the woman was crying endless tears with blood-shot eyes effectively ruining her make-up, which was running down her cheeks.

The husband, though equally sad, was giving all he could to comfort his wife. They were mourning, not for a recently deceased, but for a child that they would never have. The doctor, whom just moments ago had left for the evening, was the bearer of bad news. From an earlier check-up, he discovered that the wife, for an unknown reason, could not reproduce. The pair was devastated by this new revelation.

The wife's sister, feeling uncomfortable, sat before her sister simply watching. She could not comfort her sister on something she had never experienced. Squeezing her hands, she worked up her courage to excuse herself and retire to her home. Guilty of leaving her sister in one of her darkest hours, she left and trudged her way down the road.

The peculiar building, in what was once an empty grass full plot was what caught her attention from her ponderings. It was a house, painted black and white looking grand yet simple. The young woman was already in the front yard before she knew it. Surprised at her intrusion, she never noticed the woman who stepped out onto the porch.

"Would you like to come in?"

The young lady froze and slowly turned her head where the vice came from. Her first thought when she saw the other woman was that she completely matched the house. With pale skin and such dark black hair and eyes, it was impossible not to. Even her elegant dress was a rich black which made her pale skin to look almost white.

"I-I'm sorry for my intrusion," said the girl as she bit her lib and clasped her hands together worriedly.

The woman smiled kindly, opening the door, silently inviting her in. "Would you like some tea to clear your mind?" she said. The woman seemed to know her situation. As they walked through the halls, the woman explained more about the house, or rather the shop for wishes. "Only people who have a wish can see the shop," she said.

They entered a room of pure white with empty wall and a table set in the center. Settling in one of the chairs, the young lady felt oddly relieved, as if she had been waiting for this. As the woman poured tea into their cups, she studied the girl's face before sitting down. Bringing the cup to her lips she said, "You wish you sister could bear children." It was not a question.

Hands shaking the girl put her tea down and stuttered, "H-How-". Looking into the deep black pools carefully observing her reaction, she knew. "I was utterly useless in front of my crying sister, frozen like a statue," she confessed.

"Do you truly wish for this?" The hard tone made her look into the witch's serious face, "If you do, you must give something of equal price. Nothing more, nothing less."

Cautiously she asked, "What kind of price?"

The witch simply pointed across the table to her abdominal region. Hesitating for just a second, and then making her decision, she determinedly said, "I do."

A week after, her older sister discovered she was pregnant, declaring a miracle.