Page 81 of The Neighborhood Witch

The revelers packed the gymnasium as it was filled with excitement for the festivities. Some wore party hats. Many had brightly colored glasses in the shape of the digits for the new year. People congregated on the sides of the gym, discussing their various holiday exploits. Others danced to the melodic beats closer to the speakers. Children ran around, in and out of the crowds, playing various games of tag and keep away. Some of their parents chased them, not to play along, but in an attempt to wrangle them in from causing too much of a disturbance.

Johanna stood in the corner opposite the entrance and rolled her eyes at the sight of the children playing. Not that children were being children, but a resentment toward the parents for letting them run roughshod around the other revelers. More and more people flowed into the gymnasium. The excitement of the people partaking in the evening. The New Year’s Eve event had gone off without a hitch. Smoothly. Uneventful. The way she liked it. She allowed herself a rare moment to smile at the happiness of the evening.

That smile, however, was short lived. Her eyes dropped to the empty space next to her. The space that should have been occupied by Elizabeth Dodds, the one who enlisted her to help with the annual festivities many years ago. Her smile dissipated as fast as it had appeared. She gave two taps to the cloak clasp pinned below her left shoulder.

She bowed her head in thought.You’d really love this. Everything is going perfectly. I miss you, my friend. I wish you were here to see this.

Johanna caught sight of Hugo and Alice, hand in hand, as they entered the gymnasium. Her face turned solemn and then furious. Everything had been perfect until now. He had to walk into this gymnasium, this event, withher. His betrayal was like a slap in the face to Elizabeth’s memory.

Hugo and Alice stopped and talked with many people. They laughed. Johanna’s eyes narrowed as she focused on the woman with the purple hair. Alice’s witch like appearance sent shots ofadrenaline coursing through Johanna’s veins. That woman ruined this perfect evening with her presence.

Johanna turned back to the empty spot. “I’m sorry,” Johanna whispered in a low voice. “I’m sorry you had to see that. He should be more faithful.”

Johanna focused her eyes on the couple. Hugo was introducing Alice to various people. They talked and laughed before moving on. They meandered their way to see the Raskins before moving on to the next group. Johanna watched their every movement. Hugo and Alice worked their way through the room. Johanna needed to get closer.

She left her self-appointed spot, dodging children and ignoring other revelers, who attempted to make conversation with her. As Johanna moved closer, she never lost sight of her targets: the betrayer and the seducer.

She tapped Hugo on the shoulder to interrupt his conversation with someone. He turned around with excitement.

“Johanna!” Hugo exclaimed. “How are you doing?” He tugged on Alice’s tailcoat to get her attention.

She turned around with a half-hearted smile. “Hello, Johanna. Did you have a good Christmas? Did you like the cookies?”

“Christmas was adequate. The cookies were good. Perhaps not as great as Elizabeth’s, but they were good,” Johanna replied.

“I’m happy you enjoyed them,” Hugo said.

“I’m surprised to see you two here,” Johanna said.

Hugo chuckled and replied, “I’m surprised to see you too. Glad you could make it.”

“Well, I’ve committed to this every year, and I don’t want to break my commitment,” she replied. “You should never break a commitment.”

Hugo’s smile disappeared for a moment. He seemed lost in thought. He glimpsed Alice’s purple hair, and the smile returned.

“Everything is great,” Alice said. “Everyone is so nice and welcoming and… and this is a fun evening.”

“I’m glad you’re having fun,” Johanna said. “I’m going to go back to my commitments now. I just wanted to say hi.”

Someone shouted Hugo’s name, and he waved with his left hand. Johanna paused. All feeling left her body. Her face turned morose. She felt sickly, horrified. She tapped her cloak clasp, but held it tightly. Its elegant, crisscrossed filigree dug into her hand and left a temporary impression. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Hugo’s wedding ring was gone.

“Are you okay, Johanna?” Hugo asked.

Johanna was fixated on the ringless finger. She traced the hand’s every move.

“Johanna?” Hugo asked again.

She snapped out of her trance. “You took off your ring.”

“Uh, yeah,” Hugo replied as he pinched his ringless finger. He felt the bare skin, then let go. “It… It was time. Alice and I are in a relationship now, and it felt like it was time.”

“We love each other.” Alice smiled at Hugo. “And tonight, we’ll ring in the New Year with a kiss at midnight.”

“I see,” Johanna said as she backed away. “I’m sorry. I just remembered… I need to go do something.”

“Take care,” Alice said as Johanna scurried off.

The evening passed. Johanna stood in her spot off to the side. The occasional volunteer asked Johanna a question, but she blew them off. She wasn’t paying attention. Her focus was on Hugo and Alice. She checked the time on her watch. Midnight drew closer. She glanced to the empty spot next to her. Thoughts raced in her mind. Anything she could do to stop that kiss from happening at midnight.

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