Fault in Your Stars

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She submitted her posting, closed her laptop and paced around the living room with tears streaming from her eyes. How many times was this going to happen? She couldn’t go through this again. Each month was so hard. She was late. Then she was not. It could take three or four months but her time always came. That little plus sign had never appeared before and then after just a week, the blood appeared. There just had to be a logical explanation.

She knew she had to get out of the house. Looking at the small bag of clothes she just purchased the day before was making her physically ill. She couldn't go back to the store and return them again. She was analyzing this too much. Maybe she would take just a quick walk around the block. The cramps were killing her but she just needed some fresh air and to feel the earth under her feet. That was one thing she loved about being a Virgo. Finding a practical solution to a problem had always been her strong suit.

As she headed towards town, the little rows of shops up ahead brightened her mood. Maybe she would stop in for a gelato as she window shopped. Popping into the store, she picked out her favorite flavor, blueberry lavender. The cool creamy texture felt good going down her throat. It was so hoarse from crying so much and the chill of the cream was helping to relax away the tension.

Walking back out to the street, she noticed that there was a new storefront across the way called Fault in Your Stars. The glowing sign beckoned her over. Looking in the picture window, she saw beautiful fabrics in deep red and purple tones lay over antique wooden chairs. There was a crystal ball on the center of a table and a stack of tarot cards piled next to it. Silver candelabras adorned the shelves and the candles they held had white wax dripping down the tapered surfaces. It all looked so cliché but there was a comforting beauty to it all.

The little bell tinkled as she opened the door. A wave of patchouli and sage scents washed over her senses as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. From behind the curtain by the back wall, a tiny lady appeared. Her flowing day dress had a regal brocade pattern of maroon and gold that weaved together to form the intricate design. At first, the woman looked older but as she came closer, her age seemed to diminish.

“Sit down my child. Let me have a look at your palm.”

The two women sat across from each other at the table by the front window. Even though it was sunny outside just a couple minutes ago, the light seemed to have faded to a musty yellow. Specks of dust floated through the air around the two adjoining hands.

“Ah yes, do you see this line here? It’s terribly worn.” The old or young woman shook her head with sadness. As her fingers traced more of the lines of the palm, she suddenly stopped at a crease by the thumb.

“Wait!” she exclaimed.

Grabbing the stack of tarot cards, she quickly shuffled them and placed the lines of the palm atop the stack. With a deep breath, she began laying out the cards one by one in different directions across the tabletop. Shaking her head no and twisting her mouth into disgust, she kept pulling out cards and mumbling to herself. “No, not this week… Well, maybe… Oh no, definitely not! A month from now?” The room began to grow dimmer and the woman had to lean in and squint her eyes to clearly see the images on the cards. The pictures almost looked like they were moving but that would have been impossible.

With only one card left, she flipped it over on the center of the mess already on the table.

“Twins!”