A Rather Scary Encounter: A Street in Budapest Hungary

Budapest, a city steeped in history, culture, and charm, has a way of weaving itself into the fabric of your soul. I used to live here and this particular story will always stay with me.

I was just a teenager and going on with my daily routine, and there she was - a Gypsy woman, draped in her stunning yet intimidating traditional attire, capturing the essence of both beauty and mystery. The corner where she sat became a daily ritual.

The old women's presence was magnetic, yet there was an air of something darker that surrounded her. She seemed ancient, her face a map of stories untold, with wrinkles that hinted at a life filled with experiences both joyous and sorrowful. Each time I passed her, her gaze met mine.

Every day, she would extend her hand, asking for coins from the passersby. To some, she was just a figure on the street, a part of the city's landscape. But to me she represented a character who just jumped out of a Stephen King story. And so, each day, as I approached her corner, I felt an inexplicable pull to contribute.

I realized that every day I dropped a coin into her hand, was not out of kindness, but fear. The fear that she would put a terrible curse on me if I don't and I dared not test her patience.

There were days when I was short on change, so I took a long detour just to avoid walking near the Gypsy woman.

Finally, after a long year I moved away and I never saw her again. But I carry with me the memory of that corner and the woman who sat there, and if I would see her again after so many years I would probably do the same as I did back then.

Based on a true story

Alexandra Farris