bitterdiva

Hands of Fate

I found myself downtown on a crisp autumn day. Having only recently moved to the area, I finally worked up enough nerve to travel outside my neighborhood in quest of the city’s magic. I walked three miles east and found myself in an elder portion of the city. Cobblestone roads and antiquated brick buildings with plate glass windows were in repetition. There were apartments above the various storefronts with balconies protecting the inhabitants with wrought iron fencing.

On the corner of Main and Maple streets was a curious little shop. It was set below the ground so that customers had to descend a set of cracked stone stairs. The sign that hung from one of the awnings claimed to be Madame Xyra’s Center of Spirituality. Intrigued by the mystery of the place, I wandered down the steps and entered the shop.

Immediately I noticed that the air was saturated with cedar wood incense and dust particles danced in the air reflected off of the rays of light pouring through the street-level windows. In the front of the shop, books were piled on old wooden shelves. Various titles claiming how to do something or other: how to get in touch with oneself spiritually; understanding the goddess within; the magic of herbs and so on. This was not your ordinary spiritual store.

A beautiful woman behind the counter watched me as I navigated through the store’s wonders. She came out from behind the counter; her long, flowing salt and pepper hair struck me as she slowly approached. The woman had some air about her, I felt completely relaxed in her presence. “Would you like me to tell you your future,” she asked pointing to a sitting area.

Following her over to the area she had brought my attention to, I sat down on one of the soft, enticing floor cushions. Most of the décor had a celestial theme, blue and silver pillows with suns, moons, and stars. There were various charts on the walls featuring constellations, zodiac symbols, and lunar phases.

She grabbed both my hands and turned them over palm facing up. After some serious contemplation on her part and numerous line tracings on my hands she sighed. “I am afraid that the future for you is not promising.” Her dark black eyes softened with the news, almost pitying me. “Your love line tells me that you have had many troubles in the past and the future holds no change. If it’s companionship you are looking for, save a cat from a shelter. She will remain true to you and never cheat or leave you.”

I nodded; this certainly wasn’t the type of future I had expected. She began tracing the head line, “interesting, this line tells me that you are to be of inferior intelligence and creativity.” She broke her concentration and looked up at me, “however my heart knows better and these lines on your hand are not indicative of your true self. In all my years of foretelling the past and the future I have only encountered a handful of individuals such as you. I cannot go on further for I know not what the future holds in your hands.” She folded her hands around mine and closed her eyes. I stared at her for what seemed like eternity when she opened her eyes again and released her grip on me. “You will be fine, go now and forget these troubles,” she spoke almost inaudibly.

I couldn’t just forget my troubles in Madame Xyra’s though. I knew that I could not bear going throughout my life having my hands lie to all those who were able to read between the lines. It would certainly be a mystery to have people think of me one way and have the truth completely hidden from them. But it’s the principle of the matter and to me baring scars is better than bearing lies.

And in the moments that followed I completely erased any spiritual existence from my hands. Luckily pool chemicals are available over the counter and quite potent. The pain from the muriatic acid was so excruciating that I had passed out moments after placing my hands in the stopped up sink. When I awoke the following morning, my hands had been treated and wrapped in gauze.

02:58 PM

Comments

Posted by: Texas Yankee at September 17, 2002 04:22 PM

Posted by: goo at September 18, 2002 01:39 PM

Posted by: bitterdiva at September 18, 2002 04:16 PM

Posted by: Kristian at September 18, 2002 08:59 PM

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