An evil laugh echoed through the cavern.

The trickle of an underground stream splashed her guests as they approached. They had no choice, the opening collapsed. With no other way out they followed her dim lights flickering, emitting a glow from deep.

A voice reverberated from the chamber, “Come here my sweets. Gather ‘round. Let me share my story with you, Then you will be homeward bound.”

Two young ladies entered and looked about. Sophia looked at her kid sister Lexie. “Father will be worried, We need to get home.”

Lexie just smiled as she took a seat across from the haggard old woman.

She took note of her eyes, brown with faded irises. The flames from the fire caught small streaks of brightness when they flickered just right. The old woman’s hair was shorn and thinning. Her scalp glowed through, age had took its toll. The bags under her eyes made her appear to be centuries old.

The old woman’s frock was faded and dusty from the caverns floor. She looked as though she were trapped here for a thousand years.

She waved her boney and bent hand at Sophia. “Please, sit down my dear. Give an old woman just a moment of your time.”

Sophia settled on a log next to her sister and grabbed Lexie’s hand in fright. Lexie leaned over. “I don’t think she means us any harm. Let’s hear her story.”

Sophia stared at her sister a moment, then plastered a smile on her face. All she saw before her was a scary old crone. Her distaste was palpable.

“Oh, child, don’t be so worried. I have knowledge and experience to share, nothing more.” A tear rolled down the old woman’s face. Her left cheek sagged under the weight of the tear.

Sophia looked at this and grew sullen. Her fake smile faded to a flat expression. She felt trapped in this hole and couldn’t understand why.

“I didn’t trap you here. But I know the way out. Just give me a moment of your time, and I will show you on your way.”

The old crone continued. “I was once young like you. I was naive about love, about life…about myself. It took me decades stuck here in this dark place to find my way.”

The girls both winced. “But, you are still here?”

“I find sometimes that it feels safer here than out there, so I come here to hide. When I feel better, I return home.”

“Home?” Lexie piped up. Her youthful voice squealed. “I want to go home. Can we soon?”

The old woman smiled. The wrinkles around her mouth lifted, for this brought her happiness. “Yes, you will be able to get home. I just need a few more minutes of your time.”

Lexie looked at Sophia expectantly. “See, she’s going to help us.”

Sophia continued to watch the old crone. She still didn’t trust her. She was cautious and still didn’t know how they even ended up here.

The old lady continued. “Young women like yourselves need to find your inner confidence. Speak your voice, but use grace when you do. It will get you further than being quiet, or being a know it all. Learn from my mistakes.”

This didn’t seem like some witch trying to possess them. As she spoke, her skin began to clear of the age spots.

The cavern began to change and shift as the crone shared her stories. “When I was your age,” she nodded toward Lexie, “I thought I needed to be perfect. This made life harder on me than need be.” As she shared, the color of her hair began to darken and thicken. “I still lapse from time to time, but I had to learn to let go and learn from mistakes instead of avoiding taking chances.”

Sophia paused and inhaled at the sight, and touched her own hair. The old crone switched her gaze from Lexie to Sophia.

“I never thought myself beautiful. I paled in comparison to everyone around me, shorter, brown hair and eyes, chubby. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized true beauty comes from within,” the crone pointed to her heart and her head. “These make you who you are.” She chuckled with the knowledge of a thousand maidens.

Her laughter sent sparks through the cavern and the dim lights brightened. Now before Sophia and Lexie, the old woman seemed to soften and her smile lit up the room.

“The biggest words of wisdom I can offer is to follow your heart and your gut. My greatest regret, the greatest thing that eats at me to this day is when I didn’t follow my heart.”

Sophia looked at her. “What is your greatest regret?” She was genuinely interested.

The woman, who now appeared much younger and happier showed a sad smile. “ My dear, what I learned from it is far more important. We cannot change the past, we can only make our future brighter by living in the now.”

She rose. Lexie pondered a moment. “Excuse me, what is your name. You never shared it.”

The woman lowered her eyes and paused. “No one has asked that of me in years.” She searched her mind. “It doesn’t matter. Now, let’s get you home.”

She turned toward a still darkened wall and stepped to it. “Follow me, Lexie and Sophia,” and with that she outstretched her rejuvenated hands and pushed on the wall.

Slowly the wall began to pivot and a passageway opened. She pointed down the shaft. The girls could see daylight at the other end. “Just remember to follow your heart.”

The girls entered the passageway. Sophia looked back, “Are you coming too?” She was greeted now by a young woman, not much older than herself.

The woman smiled. “Not now, for I have things still to do. I hope to see you in the future someday.”

With that, the woman closed the portal door behind them. The girls found their way to the entrance of the cavern.

Lexie smiled brightly. “Dad’s never going to believe this!

Sophia smiled, “I agree, so we’re not going to tell him. Got it?”

Lexie grudgingly nodded yes and they made their way home.

The woman turned back to the fire. “I gave them the best of my knowledge. What else do you want from me?”

The fire grew and out stepped a figure. He was dark and overwhelming. “You have met your obligation. Now, how do you want to be rewarded? Shall I make your greatest regret come true?”

She looked up at him with great sadness. “I will never ask for it to be undone.”

“I don’t understand. Why?”

“Because, it is possible those girls would not exist, and I..I could never ask for that.” Her tears streamed as they fell into the flames. “May I go home now?”

With sadness in his own eyes, he waved his hand and returned her home. Then, she finally slept.

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