Old Man Has a Bug on His Shoulder—When Doctors See It, They Call the Officials

Raul Herman, an elderly man living in the small, dusty town of San Miguel, was known for his love of bugs. A retired adventurer and a collector of insects, Raul had lived in his crumbling adobe house for decades, surrounded by the relics of his past. His collection of jars filled with preserved insects, many of which were rare and exotic, was his pride and joy. Yet, nothing could have prepared him for the discovery that would change his life forever.

One blistering afternoon, Raul, now 78 years old, was sitting in his creaky old chair, feeling the warm sun on his back as he watched the world outside his window. It was on this seemingly ordinary day that he felt a strange itch on his shoulder. Thinking it was just a fleeting nuisance, he absentmindedly reached up to scratch it. To his surprise, he felt something small and unfamiliar clinging to his skin. When he looked closer, he was startled to see an iridescent bug, unlike anything he had ever encountered. The insect shimmered with hues of green and gold, and its wings were etched with intricate patterns that seemed to resemble ancient symbols. Intrigued by this strange creature, Raul carefully captured it and placed it in one of his jars, labeling it with the date and location of the discovery.

In the days that followed, Raul began to feel increasingly unwell. He developed a fever that seemed unrelenting, accompanied by chills, body aches, and a strange rash that spread across his chest and arms. His skin began to take on a pale, almost translucent appearance, and his once-strong body seemed to weaken by the day. Concerned, his neighbors urged him to see a doctor, but Raul, stubborn as always, brushed off their worries. “It’s just a cold,” he insisted, “I’ve survived worse.”

But as the days passed and Raul’s condition deteriorated, his neighbors finally convinced him to visit Dr. Elena Morales, the local physician. Dr. Morales was puzzled by Raul’s symptoms. The rash, fever, and sudden weakening of his body didn’t seem to align with any known illness. “This is no ordinary sickness,” Dr. Morales said, her voice laced with concern. “I need to run some tests, but I have a feeling this may be something ancient.”

The tests were sent off to a laboratory for analysis, but as they awaited the results, Raul’s condition continued to worsen. He began experiencing vivid hallucinations—seeing shadowy figures and hearing whispers in an unknown language. Raul spoke of dreams where he wandered through an enormous, dark tomb surrounded by mummified bodies and glowing symbols, visions that left him terrified and confused.

Finally, the lab results came back, and they confirmed Dr. Ramirez’s worst fears—Raul had been infected by a rare and ancient pathogen that had been dormant for centuries. The bug Raul had found on his shoulder was no ordinary insect—it was a carrier of a long-buried disease that had once plagued an ancient civilization. The disease, now reawakened, had begun to consume Raul’s body.

Dr. Ramirez wasted no time in contacting the authorities, fearing that the pathogen could spread to the larger population. A team of officials quickly arrived in San Miguel, quarantining Raul’s house and sealing off the area to prevent contamination. They questioned Raul, trying to understand how he had come into contact with the insect. That was when Raul finally revealed a secret he had kept hidden for decades.

Years ago, as a young man, Raul had been part of an archaeological expedition to a remote site in the Andes. The team had discovered an untouched tomb, filled with treasures and artifacts. Among the discoveries was a mummy, perfectly preserved and adorned with gold and jewels. Raul, driven by greed, had stolen a small amulet from the mummy’s chest, believing it to be a valuable trinket. He kept it hidden, never speaking of it to anyone.

The officials were shocked when they pieced together the connection—the bug Raul had found was the guardian of the tomb, placed there to protect the mummy and its treasures. By disturbing the tomb and stealing the amulet, Raul had unwittingly unleashed the ancient pathogen that had been dormant for centuries.

In a desperate bid to stop the spread of the disease, the authorities launched a search for the amulet. They eventually found it hidden in a dusty box in Raul’s attic, its surface covered in the same strange symbols that adorned the bug’s wings. With the amulet in hand, they returned to the tomb, accompanied by a team of archaeologists and scientists. The journey to return the amulet was treacherous, but the team pressed on, determined to right the wrong.

When they finally reached the tomb, they placed the amulet back on the mummy’s chest and sealed the tomb once again. As the tomb was sealed, Raul’s condition began to improve. The fever broke, the rash faded, and the hallucinations ceased. It was as though the curse had been lifted, and the pathogen returned to its slumber.

Though Raul was physically healed, he was forever changed by the experience. He had learned the hard way that some things were better left undisturbed, and that the past often holds secrets that should remain buried. He returned to his quiet life in San Miguel, his collection of bugs now a reminder of the dangers of curiosity and greed.

The story of Raul Herman became a cautionary tale in San Miguel, a reminder that the past is never as distant as we think, and that some treasures are best left untouched.