Automatic Diary
Charlie fell for her nearly as soon as he saw her. The witch of Bellhaven. He’s heard a lot about her.
“Thandi Kahsu? Oh, she goes above and beyond. Her potions have really brought me back to snuff!”
“The witch, I just love her. She sells these darling little stones that keep you dry in the rain. Why, I bought two more just the other day, for my brother and his wife on their fishing boat!”
“She’s very clever, you know. She has so many magical tchotchkes and she lets us bring the children in to see.”
It explains why this town has been able to survive without a doctor. The witch had been a stopgap, her cures working well for most. However, her skill only went so far, and his was backed by the power to heal.
It was when he went out to pick up a delivery of herbs from a wanderer that she caught his eye. Charlie stumbled and sat on the ground, in awe of her. The way the light shone on her, how the sun caught her hair just right… she seemed to glow, haloed by the sun.
In that moment, Charlie found religion. An angel, practically. He’s never heard a bad word about her. She helped people with her own little miracles. That’s a woman he would love to worship.
“Caught bad, are ya?”
Charlie barely paid the man any mind, staring after her as she turned the corner and vanished from sight. Rev clacked his beak and tweaked his ear, bringing Charlie back from his reverie. He finally looks at the man. Tired, but all smiles, he holds out a bag.
“Here ya go. Heard your witch was the wish grantin’ sort. Think I just saw it in motion, th’ way you were lookin’ after her.”
“I. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mmhm. Mark me, you both will be joined at th’ hip by end of the year.”
Charlie tsks and hands off a small bundle of coins. The wanderer weighs them in his hand and gives Charlie a smile.
“Thanks for the tip, kid. I’ll be around in a few seasons if ya still lookin to fill your larders.”
“Much appreciated.”
Time marches on, of course, regardless of whether one is ready or not. Charlie busied himself with work. Organizing. Creating files on everyone who shows up. Treating chronic cases, broken bones, mysterious maladies.
He didn’t have time to think of his angel until she showed up time and again. Every time he saw her, it was like a spotlight highlighted her. There were always people smiling at her, singing praises. Touching her so much.
If he approached, would she realize it was the doctor who was taking cases away from her? Could he shake her hand and smile at her like everyone else?
Rev disagreed. Wait, he says. Wait until it’s natural. You watch her like hawk.
It wasn’t as if he tried to see everything she did. It was like the world went out of its way to put her in his path over and over. He’d feel his heart clutch. Admire her beauty. Watch as her smile turned to concentration as she thought over groceries at the market. Enjoy hearing her laugh and her confident way of speaking that seemed to ease everyone around her.
When he got home after seeing her, his heart became a racing rabbit. She. Was. Everywhere.
Market, even when he changed up his days.
Library, though he only ever decided to go whenever the fancy took him.
Edge of town, she could still be spotted, emerging with components for her spellwork.
She’s studious. Determined. Everyone seems to think that her magic makes things so easy, but he knows from experience that it just makes people’s expectations more strict. And she… made a living like that.
Even when he idled at home, reading, cooking, sleeping, what have you— when her face appeared in his mind’s eye, the peonies he brought with him, they would pour blooms. The peonies always were his favorite, being signs of good fortune in love. And his was the greatest in that he had escaped his gilded cage and the endless parade of people at his doorstep and managed to worm his way into a community where an angel brought people happiness and somehow caught his heart in a bear trap.
The days go by and he’s satisfied at their distance. He doesn’t want to frighten her.
However, the universe had other ideas.