At a rustic, wooden dining table set for an intimate meal, a salt shaker teeters precariously on the edge, its porcelain surface gleaming under the warm, flickering light of a nearby candle. With a sudden shake, the shaker tips, scattering a cascade of crystalline grains across the weathered tablecloth, creating an inviting glimmer against the soft cream fabric. A figure, clad in a cozy, oversized sweater, instinctively reaches for a pinch of the spilled salt, their fingers trembling with urgency. As they toss the pinch deftly over their left shoulder, the salty grains catch the light, sparkling like tiny stars as they fall. Behind them, an ethereal figure materializes, composed of swirling dust and shadows, its translucent form flickering in and out of visibility. The ghost's eyes, hollow yet watchful, reflect a flicker of ancient wisdom, as it leans in, almost breathless, waiting to see if this time-honored ritual will ward off lurking misfortune. The atmosphere is thick with tension, the sweet aroma of a simmering dish lingering in the air, contrasting sharply with the ghostly presence that hangs like a whisper of doubt over the scene. As the flickering candlelight dances, the interplay of light and shadow heightens the sense of mystery and foreboding, a reminder that even the gentlest of actions can summon the unseen forces waiting at the edges of our lives.