The Ring

"Take this ring." "Take this ring." Came a voice on the train and I turned back to see a frail old woman dressed in white, holding a ring in her frail hand. There was something in that ring that attracted me. 

The old woman stared at me and asked, "So, you want this ring?" "Yes please," I answered. "How much does it cost?" I asked. "It's free my child, it's free!" she replied. 

I was surprised to hear that, but I never say no to free things. So, I agreed to take it. 

She smiled and said softly, "It is you, next!" 

She gave me the ring and simply smiled away. But as she was walking away she started to look a lot younger.

 I did not bother about that, and wondered, how beautiful would this ring look on a twenty-year-old girl like me! I put it on and went back to my seat on the train. Once the train reached the station I got up to fix my make-up. When I looked into the mirror I saw a frail old woman staring back at me. Then her words flashed to me, 'It's you, next!" 

I was a victim of a curse. 

I was about to cry but recollected my strength and raised my voice to shout out loud, "Take this ring, take this ring."