Gift or Curse

Twenty years have passed and I'm still seeing paranormal entities. Mostly ghosts that lurk around almost everywhere. They like to hide in dark and cold places. It's better if it's not frequently visited by people. Ghosts like dirty places as well since they can overpower our dimension with their energy.

My name is Mary Davis and I'm twenty-five years old. I'm 5'6" and have an athletic build. My friends told me that I'm very appealing. Although I'm not that pretty like other girls around. I also have my hair in a pixie cut and keep on trying to not be your typical girl.

But that's just on the outside because hell, I'm too different from most people. I have an active third eye. People also call it the sixth sense. Yes, I see ghosts and spirits around me. But I also smell and hear them. It's too much for just an ordinary girl. Although I came from a family of faith healers.

I don't exactly consider myself a psychic even if I see a different dimension now and then. My gifts are not enhanced like my grandmother's. She wanted me to embrace it but I kept on trying to stay ordinary. But I fail every time a ghost shows up while I am with other people.

I was not bullied as a child but my schoolmates are frightened of me. For those who know me personally, they seem to always walk on eggshells. They have to be careful not to piss me off or they will end up throwing up all over the place. Then they will have to call me to take off the "usog" that causes them to feel sick.

I have to lick my finger and touch a person's belly with it. That's the only way that the person will get better. My parents were victims of usog and unlucky for them, they cant find whoever causes it. As a result, they died of dehydration and left me with my grandmother. I can also cause the same thing to other people. 

That's the reason why even if it's against my will, I need to elevate that curse. Even if I don't mean to do it, that thing just happened. My high school life was a mess since I had to visit other people's houses. I have to treat them and lift that accidental curse I place upon them. That earned me the title, the demon child.

It's painful to be named like that because I'm not a bad person. I even do more good than any other people my age. But all they can see is the negative impact on my abilities. They didn't even know that I also cause usog for people I like. Although it also happens to those I secretly hate.

The only person who can understand me is my grandma. Our abilities only come out to one person in the family and it also skips the generation. My mom and her siblings didn't have any special abilities. My cousins are also normal people except for me. The lucky one who got the healer's touch and the curse of usog from my ancestors. 

I had a lonely childhood because of my abilities. But when my imaginary friend, Angel, came, I was happy again. That happened in high school when some of my brave friends asked me to join them on an ouija board session. When the planchette moved on its own, they all ran away and left me.

We summoned an evil entity but Angel stopped it from hurting me. From that day forward, he remained on my side. He said that as long as he's around, nobody is going to harm me. I feel relieved because even the ghosts no longer show themselves in front of me. They just lurk around and try to take a peek.

But when I'm home, Angel will always disappear and wait for me in my room. He said that my grandma may disapprove of our friendship. Since she can also see spirits as well, she might misinterpret Angel. So I just let him hide from grandma. After all, he's just an imaginary friend for me.

As the years passed by, I'm no longer afraid of my gift. Although people I know are still afraid of me, I gave them a bracelet with a counter curse. Angel told me how to do it so that I can't harm my friends with my presence. He said that I was too powerful and humans can't handle it.

Angel explained my abilities better than my grandma. That's why I've grown to trust him more and more. I tell him things that I experience that I can't share with just anyone. He can understand me better than myself because I created him in my imagination.

"Mary, I'm just an imaginary friend. I'm real!" Angel tried to convince me one day. 

"Of course, you are! You're not a ghost so it means you're imaginary." I told him.

During that time, I'm already in college and studying Psychology. It's the major that I can relate to the most. Yeah, I started to think that I'm a crazy person who sees the other side. That's why I don't feel I belong because I have a mental issue. That's why I can see Angel clear as day.

"You don't believe that I'm a ghost because I look colorful to you? That's absurd!" Angel commented.

"Why, are you a ghost?" I asked.

"No, I'm not. But I'm also not imaginary." Angel replied with a sad tone.

"Don't be sad, Angel. Whatever you are, you're always my best friend!" I reassure him.

"So even if I'm not a ghost or imaginary, you will still like me?" Angel asked.

"Of course! What's not to like about you?" I asked.

I should not have asked about it because that's one of the shocking moments of my life. Angel faced me and turned into something else. His face turns red like fire and he also has two small bumps on his forehead. They looked like horns and I felt my blood leave my body.

"Do you still like me now?" Angel asked and I fainted.