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I ran through Dublin city as fast as I could. I sprinted as if a bobcat were chasing after me. And, in a way, there was.
But none of that mattered, since I now stood in front of a local pub. I quickly ducked inside, knowing that everyone here would be too lazy to recognize me. Well, except for the bartender, who wouldn’t rat out on me if they knew what was good for them.
“My usual,” I said. “And keep them coming.”
“Maeve, I didn’t know you were fixing to party tonight!” The bartender immediately went back and brought out the drink, fully prepared ahead of time. “Has your mother finally let up about you?”
I threw my drink back, tasting the sweetness that would make my head spin. And boy, did it work. “She actually made the wedding sooner. It’s happening at the end of this week.”
“Oh, that’s going to be fun…” The bartender patted my shoulders as I laid my head down. “Is he at least nice?”
“I wish I could tell you.” I cried. “A man I don’t know at all, and yet I am to be wed to him in less than three days!”
“I wish there was something I could do.” They cleaned a few glasses. “Here, I don’t want you to get too drunk.” They leaned in closely. “I’ll pay for it this time. Take a bottle of water and try to be careful.”
I wiped my tears and some of the drink off my face. “Thanks.” I took the bottle of water that they were holding out for me, chugged most of it, and left, leaving the glass bottle on the deck.
I was stumbling back, trying to get back to Dublin, and I saw the strangest thing. It had to have been midnight by then, yet there was this Spanish Lady. She was lying by a river, illuminated by candles surrounding her. She had a soft complexion with long black hair, flowing down like the river. There, she took a few stones and… she seemed to be cleaning her feet. I couldn't help but watch as she dried her feet over some amber coal. There was something about her that kept me so transfixed.
Then she looked at me. I almost melted, but I didn’t know why. This Spanish Lady then winked at me, and, when I next blinked, she was gone.
I stumbled into the bar again around seven the next night. My muscles ached as if I fought off a Banshee. I immediately ran to the counter and sat right next to the bartender.
“Well, I usually don’t see you this early! Or even two days in a row.” I could tell that I was concerning them by how I shook as I sat down. “Would you like your sandwich?”
“Yeah sure. And a few of my drinks, please.” The bartender then gets all of that almost immediately. They’re perfect in that way. “Thanks, you’re the best.”
“No problem!” The bartender got a few drinks out to other people, then came over to sit by me again. “So, what wedding stuff did you do today?”
“Oh,” I said, almost like I was snapping out of a trance. “Yeah, my mother made me pick out wedding dresses. But, it was really her that picked it out. It was just the most ugly thing I ever wore, but my mother said it would entice my husband, and that’s all that matters.”
“That’s awful.” The bartender looked at me as I thought over all of the events from today. “But, for some reason, I don’t think that is what is bothering you.”
“Well, actually,” I started thinking back. “There is something I saw when I walked out of the bar last night. I saw this woman, a Spanish Lady, just sitting by the river, washing her feet. Then, she just disappeared.”
“Honey.” They said, staring at me. “I think you had too much to drink.”
I thought about that before. “I was just a little hazy. I could clearly see and I was walking straight. There was nothing else about that night that was strange!’
“So tell me, after you saw this Spanish Lady disappear, did you get home okay?”
“Yes, I-” I tried to remember. “I- I saw the Spanish Lady. And I watched her disappear. And then… I woke up at my house.”
“Well, it looks like you had a little dream.” The bartender went back to taking orders while I tried to wrap my head around everything.
“Look,” The bartender said after a while. “I see that you’ve had a few drinks,” I looked down and saw many glasses on the counter. “So, if you leave now, I will pay for your food and drinks and you can still walk home on your own. Otherwise, you are paying for everything and I will make someone take you home. So, do you agree to go straight home?”
The haziness started to kick in again. I could barely manage a yes before I got up and left. I certainly wasn’t going to get scolded by someone I considered my friend.
I tumbled a little, but I managed to make it far away from the bar. It was only half past eight, but I felt like going to bed again.
But then, I saw a familiar sight.
The river shimmered with a little extra light from the nearly gone sun. But there were still candles by the edge. And there, in the center of it all, was the Spanish Lady, brushing her hair. She tossed those long black curls as if she wast trying to make them take flight. Then she took a silver comb and glided it across her hair. It was so smooth. I had never seen a woman looking so fair.
Then she looked at me, and my heart skipped a beat. But, I wasn’t going to let her get away so easily this time. So, I asked, “Hey, were you the one who…”
The Spanish Lady spun around in her dress, and blew a kiss to me, her arm outstretched. Then, in one blink, she was gone.
I sauntered into the bar, not even trying to hide who I was anymore. I sat down at my usual seat and looked for the bartender. Only, they weren’t there. Instead, there was just an older dude, looking a bit pissed that I wasn’t explaining my order already. I quickly did so, and he went off to make my drink. As I was feeling a bit off, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw the bartender, standing behind me with a bag full of their possessions.
“Sorry, I just quit a bit ago. Thought I was done seeing you this week." They took the seat next to me. “Well, I could stay for a few minutes, I guess.”
“You better!” I said. I took a few sips of my drink, then turned back, where me and my friend talked for a while.
“How’s wedding plans going?” They asked, rather timidly. “I mean, I’m sure you are scared, since it is tomorrow.”
“We’ve been making final preparations all day. It’s ready to go right away in the morning.” I took my final sip. “Too bad I won’t be there.”
“That’s my girl! I told you it was better this way.” The bartender stood up. “Well, I can’t be late myself, now can I?”
“I suppose that’s true.” I concluded. “Hey, by the way, I never did get to know your real name.”
“Maybe the Spanish Lady will tell you.” My friend then got up. “Goodbye, Maeve!”
“Goodbye!” As I watched my friend leave, I took out all the remaining cash I had and left it on the counter. Then I took off, out of the bar, out of the city, and right near the river. There, I saw her in the sunset.
The Spanish Lady was swinging a golden net, trying to catch a moth. She saw me almost immediately, and tried to hide her net behind her legs. She really was one of the most shy women I’ve ever met.
As she was about to go in the river, I held out my arm. “Please,” I pleaded. “Take me with you!”
The Spanish Lady blushed and held out her arm too. As soon as we touched each other, the Spanish Lady pulled me into her by the hip, and we stared into each other’s eyes as we stepped into the river.