Chapter 5 #2
As I’m nearing the end of the strip of vendors, the streetlights seem dimmer and the crowds of people have thinned out, with just the random lurkers lingering. It’s almost an unwelcoming calm.
“You look lost, sweet girl,” a voice calls out.
I spin around, unsure if they’re talking to me or not.
Her rich laugh rings out as she watches me look around for anyone else. “I’m talking to you, sweet girl. Are you lost?”
An older, dark-haired woman is sitting behind a cardboard table that’s covered in a deep blue cloth with swirls of stars and moons scattered throughout.
Her sign hanging off the front says “Madame Salem’s Tarot Readings.
” Even from where I’m standing with distance between us, I can feel her energy drawing me in.
If my mind wasn’t so wary of everyone right now, I have a feeling my feet would have a mind of their own.
“Oh, uh, no. I don’t live too far from here.”
Way to basically give out your location to a random stranger, Sutton.
“I don’t mean it literally, sweet girl. You look lost in life.”
My heart skipped a beat before it started pounding rapidly in my chest. How is this woman I walked past on the street able to flay me wide open like this?
A short, shocked laugh bubbles out of me, “No, I don’t think?—”
“I know a lost soul when I see one, sweet girl.” She cuts me off while waving me over to a folding chair off the side of the table. “Come have a seat. Let Madame Salem help guide you.”
Even though everything in my right mind was telling me not to sit down, I find myself crossing the short distance and sitting down in the chair, adjusting it so we are facing each other.
She picks up the black and gold deck. The cards look thick and gorgeous with gold foiling accenting the designs. It takes a second for my brain to catch up as she starts shuffling. The sound of the cards hitting each other is oddly soothing.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the money to pay you for this.” My face burns at my admission. It’s one thing to know you’re broke, but it’s another thing to admit it out loud to a random stranger.
She pauses her shuffling, aiming a raised brow at me.
“I will hear no more of that. Did I ask for money?” I slowly shake my head.
“That’s because I, Madame Salem, can see when a soul needs a little guidance.
I would be doing the stars, gods, and goddesses a disservice if I didn’t help someone in need along the way. ”
I swallow the lump that’s forming in my throat as I try to keep the tears I feel pooling along my bottom lashes at bay. She’s the first person who’s really made me feel seen and I don’t know what to do with that.
“Have you ever had your cards read? ”
I shake my head again.
Tarot cards have always sparked an interest. I could never act on that interest for fear of my father or ex finding out. My ex would have used it against me as a form of control, knowing that if he went to my father with it, his punishment for me would be justified.
Madame Salem hums to herself and she splits the deck in half, angling the sides so they form a triangle before letting them shuffle with each other and then fall down. Picking up the deck, she shuffles a few more cards in before setting the deck on the table and dividing it into three sections.
“I’m going to let the cards speak about your life and the intention of going forward.”
The only thing I can do is sit there and nod. My eyes are glued to the three small decks laid out in front of me.
Madame Salem grabs the edge of the top card on the left deck first and slowly flips it over.
The Ace of Cups.
She eyes me but says nothing as she moves on to grab the card on top of the middle deck.
Death.
My sharp intake of breath startles me. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears at seeing the grim reaper staring back at me. Madame Salem still says nothing as she moves on to the last deck. Slowly grabbing the top card, she flips it over.
The Lovers.
“Breathe, sweet girl,” Madame Salem says softly. I release the breath that was starting to suffocate me. “Was it the Death card? That usually gets everyone that isn’t familiar with craft.”
Yes, but also no. “It was… all of it. I guess I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t know what any of this means except that I’m going to die soon.”
How can life be so unfair? Everything, until this point, has been an uphill battle. I’m not even to the top yet, and it feels like I’m being shoved back down into the pit that’s going to swallow me whole .
Madame Salem tisks. “As humans, we’re so quick to assume. The card of Death does symbolize an end. However, it’s rare that the end is your actual death. In your case, sweet girl, the cards are telling me that Death symbolizes an end to an old life. It’s time for new beginnings.”
I’m hearing every word she’s saying, but my eyes can’t leave the gold foiled grim reaper staring back at me.
“The Ace of Cups is recognizing the positive emotional shift that’s started in your life.
You might not feel it yet, but the beginning of new love is on the horizon.
A sweet girl like you deserves all the love in the world.
Which brings us to The Lovers.” Something in her tone makes my eyes leave the cards and study her face. “I believe you’ve met your soulmate.”