It was the beginning of my final year in college. My name is Elena, and I'm 21 years old.
There's a lot I wish I could forget about my life, but some memories are etched too deep.
I never knew my parents.
They died shortly after I was born—or, as my uncle and aunt put it, they died because of me.
I've lived with that throughout my whole life, the idea that my first breath stole theirs. I've asked myself countless times why it happened. Was it really an accident? Or did my arrival doom them?
The truth remains hidden, locked away in the silence of my family. No one speaks of it, and no one answers the questions that gnaw at me. Instead, they left me with whispers of guilt, telling me I was cursed from the moment I was born.
And maybe they were right. Sometimes, I feel it in the way people look at me—a shadow in their gaze, like they see something dark following me. Or maybe it's just my imagination, twisting the world around me.
_____________________________________
FLASHBACK
Until I was seven years old, I lived with my uncle and aunt. However, they grew so weary of me that they eventually told me outright they didn't want me anymore—not even as a burden.
They said they wished I would simply vanish, as if my soul had disappeared from the world entirely.
But there was something about our old ancestral home (which now belonged entirely to my uncle and aunt) that held me there, something I couldn't quite explain.
Strange things always happened in that house—unexplainable things—but no one ever seemed to notice them, or perhaps they chose to ignore them. Otherwise, why would anyone continue living there?
I was too young to understand anything except the fact that I had no one. My uncle and aunt wanted me dead, plain and simple. Despite not having any children of their own, they never treated me as one.
Before I could even grow old enough to consider taking my own life, something happened—my uncle had an accident, fracturing his hand.
My aunt's family took care of all the expenses, but when they saw me, they even suggested selling me off.
We were staying at my aunt's family home for my uncle's treatment. One day, my aunt's mother said something to her, and shortly after, my aunt told me, "You need to leave before someone comes and takes you away."
When I asked her what she meant, I didn't get an answer—just a slap. But I didn't leave.
Where could I go at seven years old? What could I even do? I couldn't make sense of anything. I just stayed there, frozen in fear and confusion.
For a while, nothing was done to me. No one even entered my locked room. Then one day, my aunt was leaving for home, and I went along with her.
As soon as we reached home, my aunt said to me, "Your uncle is going to stay… no longer."
"Huh? What are you saying, Aunt?" I asked, confused.
"Don't act stupid. You understood what I said," she snapped. "Your uncle is going to die. I'm sure of it."
"But... but..." I stammered, fear creeping into my voice. "It's just... just his hand that's fractured, right? How can someone die from that?"
"Just like your parents died," she spat, grabbing my hair tightly.
"You should die here too," she hissed. "I'm not taking responsibility for you anymore."
"So, Aunt, you're not here just to take something, are you?"
I asked, my voice shaking. "You… you have other intentions?"
Before I could even finish, she slapped me across the face. Laughing, she said, "You're smart, just like your mother. That's why I hate you even more."
"But yes, I didn't come here just to take things," she continued. "This house that your grandparents gave to their children—half of it belongs to your father and my husband. But since your father is dead, why should it go to you?" She laughed again.
"And now my husband might not be alive either... I've come to check on this house."
But then, she stopped, her gaze fixed on me, her eyes cold.
"There's something in this house, Elena…"
She said, her voice low, almost a whisper. "Have you ever felt it? You're just a child, naive, innocent, aren't you?"
"I don't know, Aunt," I said, looking down at the floor.
"This house… it's cursed."
"What? Cursed?" I asked, hearing those words for the first time.
"Curse... it's a curse, passed down through generations. A curse that will always cling to your house."
"What do you mean by this curse passed down through generations, Aunt?" I asked.
Your great-grandfather had two wives.
He forced the first wife into submission, and the second wife, who was beautiful, practiced black magic. Don't ask me what that means, she said, rolling her eyes.
Using black magic, the second wife completely controlled your grandfather to the point where he poisoned his mother. Back in those days, people weren't as educated, so the act wasn't properly investigated.
After the mother's death, your great-grandfather gave everything to the second wife. But he didn't completely abandon the first wife, perhaps because he still had some feelings for her since they had children together.
But the second wife didn't stop her black magic. She killed the first wife's son, your great-grandmother's son, in anger. When the first wife found out, she investigated and discovered the extent of the black magic being used in the house. In her rage, she showed your grandfather the truth.
Outraged, your grandfather tried to punish the second wife and even tried to kill her. But there was something strange about her—she wasn't fully human anymore, as if she had been possessed by some dark force. Even after his attempts to kill her, she still managed to strike back with a curse.
As much as I didn't understand all of this, I still wanted to listen.
Before dying, your second grandmother had said, "All the men in your family will bear my curse. They will marry, but they will die right after having children. If the man survives after the first child, then he'll die after the next one."
"Do you know why your uncle never gave me a child?" she asked. "Why don't I have any children yet? It's because your uncle doesn't want to die."
"Your father, on the other hand, wanted a child. And for that, your mother fought for you, giving you life. But even your father fell under the curse. He couldn't stop it."
"How your mother died, I won't tell you," she said, smiling cruelly.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
"There's something in this house… whether it's real or not, but there's one curse here," she said, her tone chilling.
"Aunt… please, tell me, did my dad die because of that curse? And how did my mother die?"
"You fool, because of you..." she snapped. "And do you think I'll tell you everything just because you ask?"
"Mind your own business, little girl," she said, grabbing my hair and slamming me onto the ground.
"You think your father died so quickly because of one reason? Or maybe I didn't tell you the full story… Or maybe the curse I told you about wasn't the whole truth," she said, laughing loudly.
"And if you even think about asking your uncle, he'll strangle you," she threatened.
"This has remained a secret to you until now, and it will always remain a secret for you—how your parents really died," Aunt said with a sinister smile.
I thought I had finally figured out the reason behind my father's death, and I had started believing her words. But then, Aunt's new statements confused and scared me, as if, just like always, I had once again fallen into her trap.
Aunt, humming to herself, went into her room. I stood alone, asking myself questions, trying to find answers. What had happened to my parents?
A little while later... Aunt came out, carrying some things. "I'm going back to my house. Your uncle's there, but what will you do, little Elena?" she smirked.
"Whatever you say," I replied.
"You'll go to the orphanage, if you want to stay alive," she said coldly.
"But Aunt, I... I have to tell you something..." I started.
"Shut up," she cut me off. "You won't go against my will. And do you think I care about you?"
"If you go, I'll leave you alone at the orphanage. But if you want to walk towards your death, let me know," she said, laughing cruelly.
On her way to the orphanage, Aunt was talking to Uncle.
"I'm taking your niece to the orphanage. No one there will ask any questions, don't worry..."
"I've told her she'll go in through the gate by herself and tell them she has no one. If she says anything to anyone about us being her aunt and uncle but not wanting to keep her, she won't survive."
"What... did Uncle agree?" i asked
"Do you think he won't agree? Look, girl, you're not our responsibility. You can stay alive here at the orphanage."
"Understood?"
I nodded.
"I understand, Aunt."
"I don't want to stay with you two either," I said.
"I won't tell anyone anything."
I got out of the car and went straight to the orphanage.
I had nothing with me, and I didn't even believe anyone would take me in.
I didn't go inside. I just stood near the entrance, began to cry, and then stopped.
A tall woman, dressed in fine clothes, came out.
"What's happening? Who are you? Did someone leave you here?"
"No..." I replied.
"Tell me if someone left you, I can go to the police and help you," she said, offering assistance.
"No... I'm all alone. My parents died long ago..." I trailed off, still hesitant to tell her about Aunt leaving me here.
I thought staying here was the right choice. I didn't want to go back, so I decided I wouldn't tell anyone what had really happened.
"Girl, if you want to stay here, you can, but you'll have to follow the rules of this place," the woman said.
"And if you're hiding something, you can tell me whenever you're ready."
Saying this, she led me inside.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"I don't have a name," I replied.
"What? Okay, fine...
What if I call you Sofi?"
"Alright..."
"You agree so quickly."
I didn't say anything.
I just stayed quiet looking around, observing everything in this new place...
What's ur name? I asked looking up at the lady..
Miriam... She said looking down at me.
Oh, okay..i looked away and thank you for letting me stay here, Ms, Miriam.
---
End of flashback.
Sitting in my shared room with my roommates, I was looking out of the window, reflecting on the journey that led me here...
My mind was filled with so many thoughts.
To escape from Aunt and Uncle, I had kept my mouth shut for 20 years, but I still need to know how my parents died and what happened to Aunt and Uncle. Did Uncle really die the way Aunt said? Or was it part of their conspiracy against me?
Thinking about the past now, as I've grown older, I realize I was very foolish back then. But now, with all that I've been through, I understand what life really is. Everything I've endured has made me stronger.
In just a few days, I will be 21, and now I should try to uncover the truth about my past.
Should I go to my grandparents' house? Will Aunt and Uncle be there? Or will there be no one?
What really happened in that house?
Was the curse real?
This generational curse, which Aunt told me about and has haunted my mind like a bad dream, I need to understand it.
And I studied all this time to become stronger, so that one day I could do something about my past and uncover the truth.
Now I've to gather my all courage,
Now, I will go there. That house is mine too—it has my father's share in it. I'll go there, and I won't be afraid of Aunt and Uncle anymore. Even if I feel fear, I won't let them see it...
Just then, from behind, I heard:
"Hey, Sofi, are you still planning to study tonight?"
"No, Amelia... I'm just sitting here, passing time," I replied.
"Really? You waste time sometimes too?" she said lightly, laughing.
"You're laughing? Do you know, I've been reading novels along with my syllabus books lately?" I said with a smirk.
"So, before turning 21, you've learned all this?" Amelia asked, her curiosity and joy evident.
"Yeah, and mostly dark novels, forbidden stories, some haunted, some... cursed."
"What's all this? Why are you reading these?"
"Well, romance is in there too," I said, laughing.
"Crazy," Amelia said, hitting me lightly on my arm.
"You can read too. There's a book on the table," I said with a smirk.
And we both burst out laughing again.
Amelia was looking more happy than me.. maybe because she likes to see me smile,
Amelia is the one who always praises me the most. She thinks my smile is really beautiful and says that any guy could fall for me just by seeing my smile. She has always told me this whenever I smile.
I was lost in these thoughts, looking at her, when Amelia, noticing me a little distracted, said,
"Hey, darling, lost in your thoughts again? Or are you blushing thinking about those dirty scenes in your novels?
Or maybe you're imagining yourself in them?"
Amelia teased me playfully.
"Idiot... I'm not imagining anything. Do I even have the time for all this?" I retorted.
"But you do have time to read, huh?" Amelia asked with a smirk.
I smirked back.
"I'm just reading, that's all. It's not like I'm recreating all those scenes with someone..."
But then, realizing the words I had just said, I blushed.
Amelia burst out laughing.
"Why are you teasing me so much, Amelia?" I asked, playfully hitting her lightly.
"You should go to sleep if your plan is to keep annoying me like this," I said, rolling my eyes. "Because I'm going to sleep, and I don't have time for your inappropriate talks."
Amelia smirked and replied, "Oh really? If you ever get a boyfriend, these talks won't sound so bad coming from you. Until then, keep saying all this."
She paused for a moment and added mischievously, "I'll wait and see what Madam will say in the future when she has a boyfriend."
I gave her a sharp look. "Not a boyfriend... a husband. I want a husband, Amelia," I said firmly.
Amelia raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening.
"And one who's deserving of me," I added confidently.
Amelia whistled and said, "Wow, little Sofi has big dreams! But I like your thinking—not a boyfriend, but a husband."
I lay down on the bed, looked at her, blushed a little, but gave her a firm look. Then, pulling the blanket over myself, I turned away and started to sleep.
Later, I was asleep, but... sometimes even in my dreams, I see those terrifying days when I used to live with Aunt and Uncle.
After spending the entire night caught between half-asleep dreams and half-awake reality, my eyes opened to the sound of the alarm at 5 a.m.
I got up to start my morning routine. My roommates were still sleeping, so I decided not to wake them.
If they woke up now, I wouldn't be able to get ready in peace—they make so much noise.
I thought, Let me get ready first, and then I'll wake them up.
I started getting ready for my day. I took a shower and picked a beige-colored shirt and pants from my collection. I brushed my hair and called out to my roommates,
"Amelia! Lyra!"
And as both of them started waking up...
"Sofi, you're used to waking up early; we're not," Lyra said.
"It's 7 o'clock. Get up, both of you," I said.
"Look, I'm leaving the hostel now..."
"You guys can come later. I'll meet you in class," I said and grabbed my bag before heading out.
Amelia rubbed her eyes and said, "Sofi, aren't you having breakfast?"
"Are you guys ready?"
"No, right? Then get ready, or else you won't even get breakfast.
You know the rules..."
"I'm leaving now. Catch up later," I said, opening the door, glancing at them, and walking out.
Stepping out of the door, I noticed other girls in the corridor waking up. And here my roommates, who are still preferred sleeping in, probably waiting for a teacher to come and scold her awake.
The thought made me chuckle as I shook my head.