fantasy
Jamie

230
Spring was here. Flowers bloomed, birds chirped, and loveโฆ love was in the air. Run. Hide. Itโs dangerous.Jamie sighed, his shoes clicking against the pavement. Hands shoved in his pockets, he muttered, Love, for meโฆ itโs been a nightmare.He smiled at a passing girl. She ran.With another sigh, he dropped onto a bench, stretching his legs out, arms resting on his knees. People passed by. Cars zoomed. Voices blendedโtalking, yelling, a car alarm blaring. But Jamie noticed none of it. His heart felt heavy.Why do they always run?As he shifted on the bench, something fluttered into his handsโa business card.Lady Mystic.An address. Jamie stared at it. It wonโt hurt to try.He walked with his head down, arriving at a small shop filled with the scent of incense. Crystals, books, and herbs lined the walls.A woman appeared, draped in flowing purple and gold robes. Her long silver hair shimmered, yet she looked young.She frowned. โYouโre finally here.โ
Before he could react, she shoved him into the back room."Come. Work must be done!"Jamie hesitated, watching as she mixed and burned herbs. He peeked over. "Is that for me?"She shot him a look. "No. Thatโs my lunch."Jamie blinked.She retrieved a necklace from a box and handed it to him. "You, my boy, are cursed. Wear this, and your curseโฆ hmm, will tame itself. But you must break it."Jamie held it up. "How?"Before he got an answer, he was outside again.Guess Iโll find out.He slipped on the necklace. A gust of wind smacked him. Shielding his face, he turnedโonly to collide with someone.A classic boy-meets-girl moment.ExceptโIt was a man."Oops, sorry," Jamie muttered, walking away.That was weird.He sat back on a bench, closed his eyesโthen thunk!"Ow!" He rubbed his head.Not a girl.A soccer ball.A kid ran up to retrieve it. Jamie sighed and threw up his hands in frustration.