The Witch Granny in the Romanian Village

In a small village nestled deep in the Transylvanian mountains, the legend of the witch granny grew alongside stories passed down through generations. The villagers believed that beyond the towering ancient trees of the forest, there existed a supernatural presence watching over them, occasionally intervening in their lives. Despite the modern age attempting to erase beliefs in the supernatural, the old stories continued to haunt their minds.

Maria Popescu, a middle-aged woman living alone in her remote home, was a loyal resident of the village. She had witnessed many strange occurrences around the village, but the most frightening was when she claimed to have seen something inexplicable.

One night, as Maria returned from visiting her sister in a neighboring village, the dense woods seemed even more ominous with the chilly wind rustling the leaves silently. In the darkness, Maria sensed an eerie presence surrounding her. Her steps slowed, and her eyes searched through the shadows.

"There couldn't possibly be anyone else here," Maria whispered to herself, trying to calm her racing heart. Yet, amidst the dense foliage, she spotted an old woman with long flowing white hair cascading over her shoulders. The woman looked at Maria with eyes emitting a faint blue glow under the moonlight.

Maria gasped in surprise and attempted to step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot. The old woman didn't move; she simply stared, her thin smile indecipherable. Maria trembled with fear, yet there was something strange in that smile—as if there was a call from within her that frightened her but also intrigued her.

The following morning, Maria decided to investigate further. She met Nana Ana at the village market, an elderly woman known as the keeper of the village's ancient tales.

"Nana Ana, have you ever heard stories about the witch granny in our forest?" Maria asked, trying to conceal the tremor in her voice.

Nana Ana nodded slowly, her eyes peering into the distant mountains. "Yes, my child. Stories about the witch granny have been around since our ancestors' time. They say she appears when people need advice or as a sign that something bad might happen."

That same night, Maria returned to the place where she had seen the old woman, searching for any traces or clues that could help solve the mystery. However, the more she searched, the more questions filled her mind. Was the woman truly a witch granny as people said? Why did she appear before her?

One moonlit night, when the full moon illuminated the sky with its dazzling light, Maria returned to the forest. She felt a calling from within, a call she couldn't ignore despite knowing the dangers that might lurk.

Among the natural prison-like trees, she saw her again—the old woman with long white hair floating in the night breeze. This time, Maria decided to confront her.

"Where do you come from? What do you want from me?" Maria whispered, her voice trembling yet filled with courage.

The old woman smiled, and this time, her smile felt closer, more eerie. "I come when I am called, Maria. And you have called me with fear and curiosity."

Their conversation continued in the darkness of the forest, weaving through myths and realities, superstitions, and beliefs. The old woman shared stories of her role as a guardian and advisor to those in need, even though some viewed her as a villain.

Maria understood that the witch granny's existence wasn't just about magical powers or goodness but also about human belief. She decided to follow her heart, no longer fearing the old woman's presence but accepting that sometimes, what couldn't be explained by reason was a part of life to be faced with courage.

Since that night, the village became more peaceful, as Maria Popescu and the witch granny found common ground that brought peace to both of them.