Special Birthday Celebration: A Couple’s Unforgettable Dinner Party

**A Birthday to Remember: The Couples Fateful Dinner**

Eleanor walked home with her husband from the restaurant where theyd celebrated his birthday. It had been a lovely eveningfamily, colleagues, even faces she didnt recognise. But if William had invited them, it must have mattered.

Eleanor wasnt one to argue. She avoided conflict, preferring to nod along rather than battle over being right.

“Eleanor, do you have the keys?” William asked. “Can you grab them?”

She rummaged through her handbag, then gasped, jerking her hand back as the bag tumbled to the ground.

“What was that for?”

“Something stung me.”

“With all the rubbish you keep in there, Im not surprised.”

She bit back a retort, fishing out the keys with care. By the time they stepped inside, shed forgotten the incident. Her legs ached; all she wanted was a hot bath and bed. But come morning, her finger throbbedswollen, red. Then she remembered.

She emptied her bag piece by piece until she found it: a rusted needle at the bottom.

“What on earth?”

She couldnt fathom how it got there. Tossing it in the bin, she dressed the wound and left for work. By lunch, fever burned through her. She called William.

“I dont know whats wrong. Fever, headachemy whole body hurts. I found a rusted needle in my bag. It mustve been that.”

“See a doctor. It could be tetanus.”

“Dont be dramatic. I cleaned it. Its fine.”

But it wasnt. By evening, she could barely stand. She took a taxi home, collapsing onto the sofa.

In her dreams, she saw her grandmotherMargaretlong dead, yet unmistakable. Though her sunken face mightve frightened others, Eleanor felt only calm.

Margaret led her through a field, pointing out herbs. “Make a tea,” she urged. “Someone wishes you harm. Fight it. Times running out.”

Eleanor woke drenched in sweat. Only minutes had passed. The front door clickedWilliam was home.

“Good God, look at yourself!” he barked as she staggered into the hall.

The mirror showed a stranger: tangled hair, hollow eyes, skin ashen.

Then she remembered. “I dreamed of Gran. She told me what to do”

“Eleanor, get dressed. Were going to hospital.”

“No. She said doctors wont help.”

They foughtshouting, tugginguntil William stormed out, slamming the door.

He returned near midnight, apologising. Her only reply: “Take me to Grans village.”

By dawn, she looked half-dead. “Please,” William begged. “Dont be stubborn. I cant lose you.”

But they went. She slept through the drive, waking only as they neared the village. “There,” she whispered.

She stumbled from the car, collapsing into the grassthe very field from her dream. She gathered the herbs, and back home, William brewed the tea.

Sipping it, she felt strength trickle back. Later, in the bathroom, she saw black in the toilet. “The poisons leaving,” she murmured.

That night, Margaret returned in her dreams. “The needle carried a curse. The tea helps, but not for long. We must find who did this. Its tied to William.”

She gave instructions: Buy needles. Chant over the largest. Hide it in Williams bag.

“The one who cursed you will prick themselves. Then well know.”

By morning, though weak, Eleanor had resolve. William stayed home, alarmed when she insisted on going out alone.

“Eleanor, you can barely stand!”

“Make me soup. Im starving.”

She followed Margarets plan. That night, the enchanted needle lay in Williams briefcase.

At dinner, he frowned. “Strange day. Sarah from accounting reached into my bag for keyspricked herself on a needle. Gave me a look like she wanted me dead.”

Eleanors blood chilled. “Was she at your birthday?”

“Yes, but shes just a colleague.”

The pieces clicked.

That night, Margaret revealed the truth: Sarah had used magic to steal Eleanors place.

Eleanor enacted the counter-curse. Days later, William mentioned Sarah was on leave”Doctors cant figure it out.”

That weekend, they visited Margarets grave. Eleanor cleared weeds, laid flowers, and whispered, “Im sorry I stayed away. You saved me.”

A breeze brushed her shoulderslight as a touch. She turned. No one was there.