The Witch Who Walks Between Worlds

“It's easy to be nice out of obligation, but is your heart genuinely kind?” Julieta POV I was getting my Canon Rebel T3i ready, adjusting the flash mount while my best friend, Eric Carter, nervously checked the small black jewelry box in his hands for what felt like the twentieth time. Inside was the engagement ring he couldn’t stop staring at—his smile was so soft, so full of love, it was like his entire future depended on that moment. Nate stood a few feet away holding red roses and heart-shaped balloons, trying not to crush anything as he shifted his weight. We were all preparing the surprise in Eric’s girlfriend’s dorm apartment. Anna’s roommates were in on it—they had kept her out all day and planned to bring her back right at sunset, giving us enough time to set up everything perfectly. Eric wanted me to record the whole thing like a behind-the-scenes documentary, something they could look back on when they eventually got married. And I wanted to be excited for him—I really did. But something in my chest felt heavy, uneasy. Like the timing was wrong… like the air wasn’t peaceful. I didn’t say anything. The last thing I wanted was to ruin his moment. “Eric… are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked softly, adjusting my camera strap. He looked up. “What do you mean?” “I mean…” I hesitated, lowering my voice, “proposing in a dorm? Wouldn’t something more fancy be better?” Eric chuckled nervously. “This is just the beginning. I’m taking her to France after the semester—her dream trip. We’ve been together four years. It’s time.” I nodded, but something inside me felt tight, unsettled. Anna had been dropping hints about wanting him to propose, but something about today felt wrong. And no—before anyone assumes anything—I’d never seen Eric as more than a friend. That wasn’t the issue. He closed the ring box and gave us a nod with his eyes, signaling he was ready. As soon as he unlocked the door, we stepped inside quietly, following behind him. Eric walked toward the center of the living room, then suddenly stopped. Completely still. I kept recording for a second, confused by his reaction, until what I saw through the camera didn’t make sense. I slowly lowered it… and looked up. And that’s when I saw it. Anna was on her knees. Not alone. Not innocent. And absolutely not eating Eric’s banana. The surprise wasn’t just ruined for Anna. It shattered Eric. Anna was so into it she didn’t even hear us come in. But the guy she was with did — he tapped her shoulder and pointed straight at us. She turned, eyes wide, mouth open, frozen in shock. Then she scrambled to her feet and rushed toward Eric. Eric stepped back instantly, grabbing my arm like he needed support just to stand. He started to turn away, but Anna lunged and grabbed my other arm. “It was you!” she screamed. “You always liked Eric! That’s why you brought him here!” I stared at her, stunned. Her words hit harder than the scene we just walked in on. Every girlfriend Eric ever had hated how close we were. I always kept my distance to avoid drama — but Eric and I were college buddies, real friends. Study nights, rides home, sleepovers. Even when he was single, we never flirted. Never even crossed a line. Anna… I thought she was different. I honestly did. But the jealousy in her eyes said otherwise. “Eric always picks you up at night because you ‘can’t see’?” she spat. “How do you even develop your pictures in the darkroom then? He always talks about you! You two have been screwing around behind my back, haven’t you?!” That was it. I slapped her. Hard enough to shut her up. Hard enough to snap her back into reality. “He came here to propose to you,” I said, my voice shaking. “That’s why we’re here.” Her face went pale. She looked over at Eric, but he didn’t even let her get close — he just pulled me toward the door, Nate trailing behind us in stunned silence. Anna didn’t follow. She couldn’t. She was still naked — and screaming Eric’s name down the hallway as we left. We made it to the car. Eric drove. No one spoke. Two hours. Complete silence. We dropped Nate off, then kept driving. “Eric…” I asked quietly, “do you want me to stay over tonight?” He shook his head. No words. Just heartbreak. The silence swallowed us again. I kept thinking it was a bad idea from the start. I thought Anna was different. But she turned out just like the others — threatened by a friendship that never crossed a line. Yes, Eric picked me up at night because my night vision is horrible. Yes, he always made sure I got home safe. But that doesn’t excuse what she did. Nothing does. When he pulled up in front of my mom’s house, I reached for the door handle. But before I stepped out, Eric finally spoke. “Do you still have the extra room open?” he asked quietly. “Huh?” “In your new apartment… the second bedroom. Is it still available?” “Yeah,” I replied. “A couple people said they’d get back to me, but… no one has.” He inhaled shakily. “Can I move in with you?” My heart dropped. This was either a really good idea… or a really bad one. I wasn’t sure yet. But when I looked at his eyes — cold, shattered, empty — I felt his pain in my own chest. “Yeah,” I whispered. “I don’t mind.” He smiled for the first time all day. “Okay. I’ll talk to you later.” I nodded, grabbed my backpack and camera, and stepped out. What a long, exhausting day.