Angry at first, but you also want to hear her side

Sarah is a lot for you. She was your best friend when you where children. Your first crush back in middle school. You have been on each other’s side when you had problems. And now, she even introduced you to magic, even if you doubt it was on purpose. But then, out of sudden, she left two years ago. You met a few times, called each other and wrote e-mails. But it became rarer and rarer. She began to avoid you. And Jane. And everyone else she used to be friends with. The last time you saw each other in person was more than half a year ago. Seeing her now acting like everything is alright makes you angry.

“A while?” you ask and cross your arms, “do you even know how long it was? The last time we exchanged WhatsApp messages was three months ago. I met Jane today, she said she didn’t see you for a year now.”

Sarah looks sad and lowers her arms again. She must feel very sad about avoiding her friends. Or she is among the best actors in the modern world. You can’t help but feel satisfied seeing her sad. But you also didn’t want to hurt her.

“Please, don’t be mad!” Sarah mumbles sad, “it is not like I wanted to avoid any of you. You guys mean a lot to me. But I’m in this … situation. I don’t do it on purpose.”

“Situation?” you ask and try to get calm, “a situation that keeps you from using a mobile phone? Does it have anything to do with this book?”

You show her the magic book and Sarah looks up hopefully. You are not sure what she thinks, but you believe she is not aware that you can read it.

“Ah, you took it with you,” Sarah says slightly happy and tries to reach for it, but you keep it out of her reach, “come on, don’t be like that. I … it was not my intention to send it to you. You forgot one of your books at our last meeting. I just wanted to send it back but I mixed up addresses. This book was for a … coworker. He … he likes this kind of notebooks and yesterday he called me and asked why I sent him your book.”

“A notebook?” you ask and smile slightly, now that you know Sarah is not aware you can see more than other people, “yes, Jane already assumed it is one.”

“Yes, yes, a fantasy like looking notebook,” Sarah says and sounds slightly nervous, “my colleague likes this stuff. I hope nobody tried to write in it. It … it would reduce its worth.”

“You know what is strange?” you ask and see Sara bite her lips, “several pepole looked at it today. But strangely, I was the only one who saw more than empty pages.”

There is a moment of silence. You have shocked Sarah. You are not sure what is going one in her head, but her thougts must race. And you can't help but feel a little satisfied because of this.

“You are kidding me, are you?” Sarah asks tonelessly, “you … you could read something in it? Anything unusual?”

“Oh, I’m not sure,” you say and finally pass Sarah the book, “are magic spells unusual in you >situation<?”

Sarah doesn’t answer and opens the book. She searches for something and then shows you the book again.

“Listen, I know I own you and Jane more just an apology and I was a terrible friend,” Sarah says and sound suddenly very serious and even a little afraid, “but I need you serious now! Can you read what stands on this page?”

“The Hortus Legumina curse,” you read focused, “the Hortus Legumina curse or colloquially also called >living garden curse< is a grade one curse of the school of plant magic. It allows the user to make vegetable, fruits or herbs move on their own. Plants with roots can use them like legs while others roll or hop to different locations. The spell is the basic variant of …”

“Ok, ok, enough,” Sarah stops you breathless and stares at you unbelieving, “I … I can’t believe it. You are a mage like me? Only people with magic blood can read in this book. How? How long do you know you can do this?”

“Since today, to be honest,” you answer and try to comfort your shocked friend, “nobody could read anything instead of me. So, I’m right? Magic is real?”

“More than you think,” Sarah says and looks around, “can we talk in your apartment? We need to talk a lot.”