Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
Y ork, present day
It had been ten years since Cara attended a hen party when the girls organised a surprise Tarot reading. When the others were hesitant, Cara volunteered to go first.
Several minutes in, Sylvia, the psychic, said, ‘I see a deep bond of intense love followed by great turmoil. You share a karmic connection with a man who is yet to appear in your life. You have known him before.’
The psychic continued with her unsettling revelations as she reshuffled the card deck and instructed Cara to tell her when to stop.
‘You’d have been burned at the stake just a few hundred years ago, my love,’ she said as she looked into Cara’s almond-shaped eyes.
‘You have a rare time-related gift. It may be some years before it reveals itself.’
Cara had been relieved the girls were preoccupied, chatting and drinking. No one else heard the bizarre reading.
An icy chill crawled over Cara’s skin at the memory. Were the predictions coming true? Were the visions something to do with what the psychic had called the time-related gift?
She had wanted to ask questions, but the reading was supposed to be light entertainment, and at the end, the others had gathered around. Cara was too self-conscious to continue and hurriedly thanked Sylvia before someone else took her place.
She had considered booking an appointment to find out more but later dismissed it as a load of nonsense.
That was before George. Everything had flipped on its head since that day in the bookshop.
Soon after the psychic reading, ten years ago, James had come into her life, and turmoil had followed an intense love affair. Now she marvelled how she had once believed him to be the great love of her life. Anyway, that chapter of her life was over. Cara vowed she wouldn’t go through any more heartache. She had been crushed when James had turned up at her cottage one day and ended it. Just like that. He said they were too young to be tied down. That was six years ago.
James moved to Australia and the last she heard, he had married. The memory of the rejection still carried a slight sting, but her feelings had dimmed to the point where she couldn’t recall loving him. Hearing about his marriage meant nothing to her. It was like hearing news of a stranger.
A couple of years later, when Cara met Daniel, she began to cautiously embrace a personal life. Prior to meeting Daniel, she buried herself in work and had only been on a few stilted dates, mostly to shut her friends up but also to stop herself from becoming a social outcast.
She decided she would never again risk falling in love. The price was too high. Being out of control in the love department was off-limits for Cara.
And now the red warning flag flapped violently in the wind. She had crossed into the danger zone, and despite her best intentions, she knew she was already in too deep with George to turn back. What was she going to do?
Daniel adored her. Her feelings had taken some time to thaw. She had put her heart on ice after James. It would never be romantic love with Daniel, but she enjoyed his company. The arrangement matched her needs, and he had fitted the bill perfectly. It sounded cold and business-like, but Cara had no intention of lowering her defences again.
The age gap was big: twenty years. But it worked in his favour because his maturity made her feel safe. Daniel had already lived a full life, and he didn’t need much from her. All he asked for was some of her attention, which until meeting George, had been easy enough to give.
Cara was grateful that Daniel was a dedicated professional who didn’t interfere with her day to day activities. She wouldn’t have been able to get along with him if he got in the way of her busy career.
They each had their own offices and homes, and secretly Cara still wondered why they must marry at all, but Daniel was traditional, and ultimately, he wanted her as his wife. When she agreed to the engagement, it had seemed a small concession for the price of a secure and settled life.
As an adopted child, she had painful memories of her early years. Cara valued Daniel’s solid dependability. There were no surprises. So far with Daniel, she had received exactly what she had signed up for. And she appreciated that. Her work was the love of her life. She didn’t need anything more. The relationship had served them well; they both got nearly everything they wanted.
She sensed, given the opportunity, Daniel would have liked them to have a more intimate relationship, but he seemed to accept she wasn't attracted to him in that way. She was grateful he didn’t press or probe.
Their relationship was functional rather than passionate. There was no chemistry between them, but there was mutual respect and friendship. This was his concession, and he made it without complaint.
When they were about to get engaged, he had asked whether she was certain that what they shared would be enough for her. She was a woman in her prime; he expressed concern that her needs would grow. He worried she would change her mind about wanting children.
She delicately dissolved his concerns and assured him that she loved things just as they were. Daniel was relieved and said no more on the subject.
After James, she’d shut down that part of herself and wasn't willing to open Pandora’s box. Cara was sexually charged, but she had made a conscious decision to curb her sensual nature, and it had been firmly under control, until now. Until George.
The morning after the hen night, Cara put the strange revelations down to an excess of white wine and high spirits. Psychics loved to create drama. It didn’t mean it was true.
Now, shaking her head to break the spell, she called her friend, Alice, for a quick catch up and asked if she remembered the name of the psychic. Fortunately, she did. Cara called Sylvia’s number, and after a brief enquiry, she booked a reading for that afternoon. Her stomach churned at the thought, and she reflected on her impulsive behaviour. It wasn’t like her at all, but she felt a strong urge to talk to Sylvia.
You fool. You know damn well what prompted this urge.
Yes, well, fool or not, I need to talk to someone about these visions, or I’m going to lose my mind.
She headed to her office to prepare for the Seville trip before the appointment with Sylvia. It wasn’t long until her attention wandered and she found herself holding George’s business card, fighting an irresistible desire to call him. She shook her head and called her father instead.
‘Hi, Cari. How are you, my darling?’
‘I’m good Dad, thanks. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.’
His voice dropped an octave, and she heard his concern. ‘Is everything okay? You don’t sound like your usual bubbly self.’
How did he know? I only said a few words.
She reassured him all was well and didn’t mention her fall or the appointment with the psychic. He would worry, and there was no point giving him something else to worry about, all alone in that big, rambling house. Since he sold his blue-chip company and retired, he had a lot of time on his hands. Her adoptive father was a kind-hearted man, but she doubted he would understand what she was going through now.
He was relieved she had settled down with Daniel although he had initially been disappointed to hear she was marrying a man so much her senior. He wanted grandchildren. Cara was his only child, and she would inherit his fortune. He had been Cara’s anchor ever since he’d rescued her from the children’s home. She called him as often as she could, just for a chat and to hear his voice.
She loved her father and had never known another parent. She tried not to think about what would have become of her in that dismal children’s home if he hadn’t shown up that day. She doubted the other kids were as fortunate.
Thanks to her father, Cara had enjoyed a stable upbringing; albeit not traditional with a mother, father and siblings, but she had grown up with an abundant source of love and support.
Several hours later, nerves clawed at her empty stomach as she took a seat outside Sylvia’s office. She’d pictured a dark and dingy setting with a crystal ball, but the waiting area was clean, bright and modern. An exquisitely dressed, professional-looking woman with designer sunglasses perched on her head emerged from the office. Perhaps coming here for guidance wasn’t crazy.
Breathe Cara, breathe.
The psychic ushered Cara in with a charming smile. Cara took a seat opposite Sylvia, on a shabby chic, green chair and pasted a smile on her face.
‘How can I help you, my dear?’ asked Sylvia. She had cat-like, all-knowing eyes; the bright green pupils were flecked with threads of vibrant gold.
‘Thanks for seeing me at such short notice. I met you years ago at a hen party, and you predicted some pretty fantastic things. I have to admit I promptly put them out of my mind. Until recently…’
‘I see. Well, why don’t you tell me what’s going on and let’s see how I can help.’
‘I met someone, and everything’s become dreadfully confusing,’ said Cara.
‘Ah, yes. That can happen.’ Sylvia nodded and waited for her to continue, her green eyes curious.
Cara had planned not to share much detail; she wanted to see what Sylvia sensed, without feeding her clues. Cara was sceptical but desperate to understand what was going on between her and George.
‘I’d love to know what you see in the cards for me.’
Sylvia shuffled the decks. ‘Tell me when to stop.’
Cara waited. One card jumped out, mid-shuffle. She took it as her cue and called, ‘Stop.’
‘Let’s begin with the wild card as it so obviously wanted to be read,’ said Sylvia.
Cara’s heart pounded, her throat was tight.
‘Your career forecast is smooth, but there’s major turbulence ahead in your personal life. You’re going to be required to carve out time to allow love in. You need to balance the professional and personal because there’s a lot of passion coming your way this year. I see that you invest most of your energy into your career. Your soul won’t permit this one-dimensional living anymore; it’s going to make sure it attracts your attention. This man is the beginning of a new chapter for you.’
‘I’d like to know more about this mysterious man. What else do you see?’ said Cara.
Sylvia turned the next card over onto the glossy wooden surface of the desk. It was from the Tarot deck.
‘The death card,’ Cara gasped.
Sylvia reached across and touched her arm. ‘Don’t worry; it’s not as bad as it looks. In this spread, the death card indicates the end of your old life. I see it clearly. The high walls of your strategically constructed life are now tumbling down. This is a good thing. You’ve been fulfilling a tiny percentage of your potential. It could mean the end of another relationship to make way for this new man. Is there a long-term partner in your life?’
‘Yes,’ replied Cara.
‘This new man is more significant in your life than any other,’ Sylvia continued.
They went through more cards, and Sylvia saw a time-related gift, with no prompt or reminder.
‘This is interesting.’
‘What is?’ said Cara. She was on the edge of the chair now, legs jammed against the desk. Such was the suspense; she didn’t notice her physical discomfort.
‘You have the ability to see into the past and future. I’m not sure how this will play out for you. It’s truly fascinating.’ she continued.
‘I don’t know what to make of it,’ said Cara. ‘It all seems so farfetched.’
Sylvia flipped another card over. ‘Ah. Now it makes sense! This is the Twin Flame card from the Angel deck.’
‘What does it mean?’ Cara admired the beauty of the artwork; two lovers mirrored one another.
‘It’s not often I see this card in readings because it’s rare to have your Twin Flame counterpart on earth. Most Twin Flames operate purely as spirit guides to assist their other half in navigating their journey with a soul mate. A soul mate is someone from the same soul group, unlike a Twin Flame who is ‘the one,’ said Sylvia, looking up to meet Cara’s eyes.
Cara stared back at her, trying to take it all in.
‘What are the man’s name and date of birth?’
‘His name is George, George Cavendish. Um...I don’t know his date of birth.’ Cara was self-conscious. The irony of having a reading about a man whose date of birth she didn’t know, now seemed ridiculous.
‘George is indeed your Twin Flame,’ said Sylvia, her eyes clamped shut. ‘You’ve been together before, and it’s time for you to reunite. You have lived many lives together, and your destiny now calls you into action. Do you know anything about Twin Flames?’
‘No, I’ve never heard the term before,’ said Cara.
‘They may incarnate together for their final life cycle on earth. By this time their karma has been balanced, and they are in the final stages of awakening. “Ascension” is what the mystics call this journey.’
She continued to stare at Sylvia, not knowing what to say.
‘This is challenging, but you and George are called to do great things. There’s no need to be afraid. Only souls who have volunteered for the Twin Flame experience are given this opportunity. The good news is that you are both fully equipped for the mission. Spirit never puts anything in front of us, which we’re not able to handle. This is your life purpose.’
Sylvia had slipped into a trance, and her speech was now staccato-like.
‘There will be heartache, misunderstanding and obstacles before you are fully united. This is the nature of the Twin Flame journey. It’s the most intense experience of love. You are being called to love yourselves, as well as each other, unconditionally. It’s typically the most testing piece. It requires a complete stripping away of ego for you both. There will be a rollercoaster of love and hate before you both understand you are one half of the same soul. You complete one another.’
Cara stared at Sylvia as waves of fear engulfed her. None of this made any sense, and yet, she heard the truth in the words.
Sylvia continued, ‘There’s no escaping this connection: you are bound to one another for eternity. The connection is so intense that one or both of the twins may run. It can feel unbearably vulnerable, and they fear the consequences of being together. It’s a karmic dance; they run and return to each other repeatedly before understanding they are only running from themselves. Twin Flames mirror their counterpart’s behaviour in different ways so one may accuse the other of doing something which in fact they do themselves. All that’s ever going on is a rising up of old wounds and insecurities from relationships in past and present lives. It’s an expunging of ego, a burning down of the old way. To come together fully, you must both reach the point of accepting your connection is inevitable. No amount of resisting or controlling your feelings can dissolve the bond. It’s a waste of time and energy, but most go through this cycle before they accept it.’
‘It’s incredible,’ said Cara.
‘I’m telling you all of this to save you pain, but it’s a lot to grasp, and you must find your own way to navigate.’
‘I don’t know what to say. I only met George the other day!’
‘And it feels as though you’ve known each other forever,’ said Sylvia.
She wasn’t wrong. Cara tapped her nails on the desk.
‘Have you any questions?’ asked Sylvia.
‘Yes. How is this Twin Flame thing different from other relationships?’
‘This bond is unbreakable. I’m on my own Twin Flame journey. My husband and I are now at peace and no longer battle and spin in the old cycle. We had to overcome our own demons before we were able to live together in harmony. We each had emotional scars and baggage to release before we were free. No matter what you do to escape the cycle, the love doesn’t diminish. The Twin Flame dynamic is chameleon-like. You think you’ve understood and then it changes again because it pushes you to your outer limits of self-realisation. Unlike other relationships where you overcome heartbreak, lose interest and move on, the Twin Flame connection cannot be extinguished. You are irresistibly drawn to one another. Forever.’
Sylvia asked to see Cara’s hand. Cara placed it gently in hers and waited. Sylvia’s eyes narrowed as she examined Cara’s palm. ‘Your lifeline is fragmented, which is highly irregular, it’s as if you are simultaneously living more than one life. I’ve only ever seen something similar when I was a young girl under apprenticeship. A woman came to see my teacher and claimed to have the gift of time travel. She had the ability to live in different timelines.’
Cara’s mouth dropped open.
A time traveller? Now that’s taking all of this a little too far...
Sylvia released her hand and restored the cards to a neat pile. ‘We’re at the end of our session today.’
‘Oh yes, of course,’ said Cara, glancing at the clock on the wall. She couldn’t believe an hour had passed.
‘If you still want to know more, I suggest booking in for another session in a week or two. It’s a lot to take in. That will give events time to unfold and allow you to gain insight into what you’ve learned today. In the meantime, try to stay calm. Surrender to what is. Trust that you will be guided through this stormy period. Take it one step at a time and follow your intuition.’
‘Okay. Thank you,’ said Cara.
‘Goodbye, my dear. Take care. I’m here if you need me.’
Cara left the office.
What now?