Grandma's Ultimate Sacrifice

After Thanksgiving, Grandma insisted I take a herbal remedy. Her voice was filled with fear as she said, "The holiday's over, and it's coming back. Once you've taken the remedy, scales will appear on your body when it shows up."

Back in the city, my boyfriend Kendrick couldn't wait to get close. The moment he hugged me, an unbearable itch spread across my back. I reached around to scratch and felt several hard scales.

The cold, slimy sensation sent a shiver down my spine, like an electric shock. Kendrick teased, "How come you're so sensitive after just one holiday?"

I couldn’t believe it and ran my fingers over the spot several times, only to confirm it wasn't an illusion. Beneath those scales, it felt as if countless tiny bugs were sucking and wriggling. The deep, relentless itch made my nails dig painfully into my skin.

At the same time, an uncontrollable chill crept through my body. Grandma's words were true!