I wasn't one to complain, but it had been a pretty horrible year.

People generally await the New Year with a lot of ambition, full of resolutions, glamorous plans and self-centered achievements. But I do not.

I just wanted the next one to be better.

As if the miserable conditions I was experiencing at Fortunato were not enough, not being paid enough for the effort I made, sitting at the reception desk at the behest of the great Rufus Griswold - who did nothing except try to harass me in every way -, in a routine exhausting where I could never sleep properly, I still had my parents, and the terrible relationship I had with them.

So, when I sat at that bar, at the lonely counter, all I thought about was stuffing myself until I pass out, hoping for a counting miracle. Some people were getting along well when I arrived, and others were giving me the side-eye, but with the thought that I was less attractive to them, I decided that the counter would be the best option.

Suddenly, those eyes that looked yellow from afar fell on me, and the figure that carried them turned around, with a subtle smile.

"I see someone needs a drink, hm?"

I looked at her, and shrugged, before answering. "Just today. I can't drink, I still have work tomorrow."

She continued to smile, and I had the slight impression that her eyes had returned to their normal color. Clear, deep and very eye-catching. But it could just be the impression, because I was too exhausted to make sense.

"Ah, I understand. Just a minute, I'll prepare something for you, miss..."

"Amber."

She nodded, turning away and concentrating on preparing whatever the drink was. Like I said before, I was too tired to care about what drink I was going to drink. If I could just get to the New Year with something in my throat, that would be a good idea.

After minutes that felt like seconds of waiting, the barista turned to me, two shiny glass cups in her hands. She was still smiling subtly as she slid my glass and turned hers in her other hand.

She served me with the same smile, and then looked at me. "It's funny, I can see there's something wrong with you... Something that's stopping you from celebrating tonight."

I looked back at her, frowning, and sighing afterwards.

"It's true, it was... It wasn't a very good year," I commented, feeling terrible for venting to a stranger. "But the year ahead will be better, I know that."

"And why is that? Why was it so bad?"

"My boss, my work... everything makes me exhausted... and not having anyone to talk to is really bad at these moments," I took a sip. "Um, that's great, is it Merlot?"

"It's Merlot, but it's not one of the best," the barista said, tapping her glass still. "I've seen and experienced better, around the world."

"Have you been around the world?" I asked, unable to resist my curiosity. She smiled and nodded. "Where did you go? On that expedition?"

"I've been there too, but not just on this occasion," she said, and suddenly stopped, as if she were saying too much. "You know, it's interesting, being on the other side. Sometimes it's tiring, it breaks my heart, but... it's good, there are things there that are worth the effort."

I was more intrigued. She didn't look like the type of person who would travel around the world, wearing black clothes and a gothic look, as if she wanted to hide on purpose. Generally, these trips are made for people who want to be seen, above all else in the world.

"What are you talking about, exactly?"

"Have you ever had a dream... a desire... a deep, hidden desire that no one has ever fulfilled, and that you yourself didn't imagine you could achieve?" she looked at me with the same curiosity as me. "I'm like... a dream maker. I go on these trips just for that..."

I frowned, still not understanding, but took another sip to hide it, nodding.

"Are you the personification of the genie in the lamp?"

She laughed. "Ah, I would like to, but no. It would be a lot of ego on my part, but I would say that I'm better than him," she laughed. "Verna is my name, but the name never makes that much of a difference to me."

"Different name, never heard it before," I said, drinking again. "Are you from here?"

"I'm from nowhere. I'm everywhere, at all times... it's strange, I know, but it makes sense to me."

I nodded, finding it strange. And then, he found it even stranger when she helped herself to the Merlot on the counter and drank some. She smiled at me, still tapping the glass.

"But what about you, Amber? Do you have any desires that you thought would be unrealizable, unattainable? Please be honest with me."

I opened my mouth, and then thought a little. "No. I think I'm happy this way. Except for a few little things that I would change here and there..."

She softened her gaze and took a sip, her clear eyes suddenly yellowed again and wide, fixed on me. "What kind?"

"Like my boss giving me justice, I deserve, and stop hitting on me," I laughed, drinking the last sip and pouring myself again. "Not much."

"Your boss is too terrible for you, Amber," Verna replied, smiling. "Don't ask me how I know this, but I do. One day someone will show him what's really good, don't worry."

I frowned. "You seem so sure, are you some kind of psychic?"

She laughed. "No. I would like to be, but no. I... I see people's possibilities. And that's it. I help them based on the possibilities."

She stared at me again, and looked away at the TV, where the ball was falling on the screen in Times Square.

"Oh, it looks like it's almost time," she whispered, laughing. "Your year is going to be great, Amber, I'll make sure of that."

"You..." I started, but she shushed me, smiling.

"You just have to make a deal with me."

"What kind of deal?"

Verna thought for a while, and then smiled. "Wow, you seem so sure..."

She was mocking me, of course, I realized right away, and with a muffled laugh, I glanced back at the TV, hearing people echoing a countdown. The ball finally reached its destination, and I turned around, seeing Verna's yellow eyes glued to mine again. She suddenly leaned over and stole a peck from me, taking a little too long to pull away.

"Was that your deal?" I whispered, smiling mischievously. Verna took a moment to open her eyes and then tilted her head, as if agreeing.

She thought for a while and finally said, her voice low, slowly close to my ear, as if she wanted to seduce or bewitch me. She had one of the softest voices I'd ever heard, and apparently, she knew how to use it.

"Actually, it was a plan to find out if you were trustworthy, if you were innocent enough to accept my deal..." she whispered. "And because I know, deep down, that what you wanted most was to be kissed on New Year's Eve, my sweet client."

I trailed off, looking at her, getting lost in the soft expression on her pale face. Suddenly, an impulsive idea occurred to me, and I leaned in again, kissing her, this time with more intensity. When I touched her hair, behind the back of her head, I had the impression that it melted at the touch, as if Verna were just an illusion, as if she were the literal cosmic dust from which human beings possibly emerged.

However, the kiss didn't last long. She pushed me away with her feather-light hands, and to the naked eye, it looked like it was just a breeze of wind stopping us both. She touched my face, running her fingers lightly across my cheek as she whispered: "We can't do that right now, Amber. I'm afraid you're not sober enough, and it wouldn't be wise for me to take advantage of this."

I looked at it for a moment and realized it made sense. But she had kissed me first, so it was clearly just an excuse, as always happened. I started to wonder if our kiss was that bad.

"But Verna..."

"Please, darling. I'm trying to be reasonable. Like I said, I work with possibilities, and the possibility of us working out is less than zero. Don't get me wrong, it's just in case..." she hesitated. "Condemning pure-souled humans to my cruel and inevitable fate wouldn't be extremely political of me."

I sighed, and gave her the space she needed, even though I couldn't take my eyes off her. Verna was the same, and I could feel that, despite what it seemed like, that moment we shared wasn't just fun, much less than a New Year's kiss.

Verna poured me the rest of the Merlot and, with the same soft expression, touched my face again. This time, her voice was clear, and in a moment of vulnerability, she made it more than explicit that she wasn't lying when she said: "But we'll still meet, Amber," she whispered, her fingers again like soft feathers touching her skin. "Our deal may not have been sealed, but you've proven enough innocence and courage to convince me that you're capable of this. You'll have a great new job, I promise, and your boss will never bother you again."

She nodded, and I allowed myself to nod too, so confused that I definitely didn't know what to believe anymore. There was a little devil on my shoulder urging me to try again, and there was another devil, right in front of me, who would be harder to convince than I expected.

"And of course, you will have my full protection," Verna whispered, smiling. "I'm not going to promise you eternal life, because that would be impossible even for someone like me. But I promise, and I need you to believe me on this one, I promise that I will move mountains so no one will hurt you again."

I smiled and drank the last sip. Suddenly, another impulse. This time, a question, instead of an action.

"What are you? A genie without a lamp? A tempting devil who seeks souls and deals?"

Verna smiled, and simply looked away at her glass again, magically empty. "I already told you. I'm nothing, I don't have a life. I'm just what your mind wants me to be."

I was confused, but suddenly, a memory hit me hard. When I looked at Verna, it was as if she already knew.

"I really need to go. My mom will be furious if I get home late, even on New Year's..."

She nodded. "Please don't take any chances. This part, I won't be able to protect you."

I laughed, stood up and slid the only dollar bill I had. Verna looked at the ballot, he turned it around and handed it back to me, denying it.

"No need. The bill is already paid."

"What?"

"Please don't insist. I insist."

I looked at her, shrugged, and frowned, suddenly realizing that maybe it was for the best. She kept watching me, until I left, and as soon as I turned outside, on the street, I noticed who had just walked through a solid wall.

The bar was gone.

And she was gone too.

Even more confused - and blaming the drink -, I put my hands in my pockets to protect myself, and walked back home, into the daylight. As soon as I crossed the street, however, another very curious thing caught my attention.

There was a raven, standing still, resting on a post. It was just any raven, but it was a raven, and it looked down at me. Suddenly, I had the impression that he had winked at me.

"What nonsense. Ravens don't blink," I whispered to myself, looking at the raven again. He remained there, standing still, as if he hadn't even noticed me. Deciding to ignore that crazy night, I turned around.

As I disappeared down the street, I whispered to myself once again.

"Ravens don't blink."

Oh, but if I only knew that they do more than blink... if I only knew...