Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I long for the embrace of darkness—the comforting kind, like a velvet night draped over a quiet beach. Yet, instead of peaceful emptiness, my mind’s eye is flooded with vivid images of loss and shame, a carousel of irreparable mistakes, and words that echo long after they were spoken.
Hi there. My name is Genevieve Long, and I’m what you might call a less-than-average witch. Surrounded by my two older sisters, who are master witches, and my dad, a great wizard, it’s hard not to feel a bit overshadowed. Even my mom, who was also a witch, was considered average at worst.
Yes, she ‘was’. She died 28 years ago, along with my younger sister who would have been born then, in childbirth. Don’t worry, thinking about her doesn’t make me break down in tears. However, I am filled with a sort of obsessive curiosity about how different life would be if they were here.
Luckily, I don’t have much time to dwell on that, as I am deeply involved in the business my husband started. At 31, I had envisioned myself as a mom, but life had other plans. Now, I find myself contributing to a venture that has turned out to be quite rewarding.
Despite being a mediocre witch and a scattered mess most of the time, I attract greatness. I think it’s because I see the most redeeming qualities in people. Some say that I envision the best of what they can be. And, I guess that’s great, but sometimes I wish I could start our fireplace without a lighter, clean my house with a snap of a finger, or create things out of thin air, like most of the witches I know.
Complaining makes me itchy, so I won’t. Besides, my gift, or whatever you want to call it, does come in handy at times. My husband, brilliant as he is, isn’t a people person. He’s shy and awkward, but he excels as a ‘Releaser,’ possessing the magical ability to help people release their fears and anxieties. He is also amazing with numbers, planning, and organization.
You see, we own a spa, but it’s not like the ones in the human world. In the magical realm, a spa is a sanctuary for releasing emotional pain and inner chaos. This is where my husband truly excels. With his unique talent as a ‘Releaser,’ he helps our clients let go of their fears and anxieties. Meanwhile, my ability to envision the best in people guides him in pinpointing and alleviating the right emotional burdens, as well as fortifying their positive attributes.
Our collaboration in this transformative process has made our spa world-renowned, drawing witches from all corners of the globe for his Releasing treatments and my insightful visualizations.
I’m sure he’d do just fine without me, but being able to help in this way is something I find both relieving and fulfilling. Sure, sometimes I catch myself wishing for even a fraction of his fame and talent. Yet, when I see our clients leave transformed, it strikes me how my quieter contributions, often overshadowed, are what lift our results from good to extraordinary. For me, it’s an honor to play this role, and realizing the understated impact of my efforts is enough for me.
In this world where flashy spells and grand magic get all the attention, it’s easy for the quieter magic, like mine, to stay hidden in the shadows. A lot of witches with abilities like mine might never really grasp how powerful they truly are. It’s not about making a big show or dazzling with spectacle; it’s about the small things, the tiny shifts we help create.
The faint glimmers of hope we nurture might not make headlines or light up the skies, but they’re there, in the simple yet profound changes we bring about. It’s a kind of magic that doesn’t shout for attention, but in its own gentle way, it changes the world, one heart at a time.
