Clementine had become a wild child. Born in America but raised abroad, she now had little regard for the expectations of high society. But her reckless ways eventually catch up with her when she is kicked out of college in New York City and forced t...
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The 'healer' told her to meet her at the "little Schack on the beach".
So when Clementine got there, she was't surprised to see that it was quit literally, a little house on the beach, not far from the water and shaded by palm trees.
She had to drive there herself. A nerve inducing event but nevertheless satisfying.
Clementine was both nervous and excited, hesitating for a moment before knocking on the door.
Of course, no one came to the door, but it opened itself just a crack.
"Entre," a hoarse voice called form the inside.
Clementine gently pushed the door open and stepped over the threshold, taking a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. A stark contrast from the afternoon sun.
"Clementine," the same voice called from somewhere deeper inside the shack, beckoning her to come near it, follow it like an enchanted mermaid's voice.
"A woman as untameable as the sea," the voice said, and emerging from the shadows, Clementine could see a very old woman with dark skin and fine lines on her face. She was draped in different clothes and beaded jewelry, everything a symbol for something else.
"Laticia sent me," was the first thing that occurred to Clementine to say, as if she needed to somehow justify her being there.
There, where e there was an undeniable, strong energy.
"I know who she is," the old woman said, at this point standing closer and closer to her, observing her. Then reaching out to put a strand of Clementine's hare behind her ear, "but who are you?" She asked.
Clementine couldn't move, even if she wanted to then, she was hypnotized by the field of energy.
All of a sudden, Clementine felt that his was very wrong, and her first instinct was to turn around and leave, as if she never needed to come her in the first place. To run away.
Turning around, she suddenly started to walk to the door, "I'm sorry, this was a mistake," and before she could take the door handle, the old woman said:
"It's about a boy, isn't it?" And Clementine's hand froze halfway in the air. "And not just any boy," she continued, "a beautiful, mystical boy. A powerful boy, commanding the realms of death and life."
Clementine swallowed hard and turned around slowly, maybe giving this a chance was the right thing after all.
"What can you tell me?" Clementine asked slowly.
"Depends on what you want to know," the old woman, named Isabella, proclaimed mysteriously. "Follow me, child," and she led her to a back room, where there was a table surrounded by two rickety chairs. Around them were candles and skulls, the whole 50 yards.
As they both sat down, Isabella pulled a deck of cards, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Tarot," she said simply.
Clementine nodded, and watched as her old hands spread it out across the table. Then, chanting something - not quite Portuguese, not quite English - she said: "Pick 3 cards."
Cautiously, Clementine picked up her hand and wavered them over the cards, changing her mind at first but once again retreating to he first decision. She closed her eyes, and let the energy pull her, in turn pulling out 3 cards in no particular order.
Isabella then turned the cards over one by one, and nodded herself.
"Lovers," she pointed to the first: "Death," she pointed to the second: "Justice," she pointed to the final card.
Even though Clementine didn't know what they were supposed to mean, she started to feel that she knew anyway.
"I cannot give you an answer, see, for we all carry the answers inside ourselves. Ask yourself a question and leave it for long enough, you will find it. All I can do, is help you get here. Guide you." Isabella stared into the depths of what felt like Clementine's soul, and again Clementine couldn't tar her eyes away.
"I know you're in a difficult situation," she continued, "I can see it in you. See, I see things other people don't. The lovers," she pointed to the first card, "a lucky card," she said smiling. Then, shifting her facial expressions to be serious, "death. You know what that means. And finally, justice."
Gathering the cards together, she said, "this is your past, the present, and your future. Your boy...what's his name?"
"Zico," Clementine managed to say his name for the first time in months, feeling a sense of power associated with it.
"Zico," Isabella repeated to herself calmly, smiling, "a divine, soul connection."
She looked at Clementine, and Clementine nodded, involuntarily.
"We haven't talked in...some time. Something happened, I almost...died. I think he found somebody else. And now, after this time, his friend died. He invited me to the funeral." Clementine said looking down, hearing how strange it all sounded saying it in real words.
Isabelle only continued to nod and optioned both e second card, "death represents a lot, not just literally, an end to something."
Clementine felt that her worst fears were coming true. The end of it.
"But justice," Isabella interrupted her suddenly, "Judgement is a good card. A second chance," Isabella raised her eyebrows, "unless you don't want it."
Clementine stared ahead.
"A rebirth," Isabella whispered.
Clementine was filled with hope. She did't care if it was a foolish happiness, was't that better than a calculated unhappiness anyway?
"Thank you, I really have to go now, I think," and before Clementine could get up, Isabella shot out her arm and grabbed her wrist, Clementine was shocked at her strength, pinning it down to the table.
"But you must be careful. It will happen, but not how you think."
Clementine held her gaze for a moment, and then she let go.
"Choose one last card," she pointed the deck back at her.
This time she chose with more confidence, handing it back to Isabella.
If she wants mistaken, she saw something strange flash in her face expression, a look o instantaneous Terry before she went back to her unchanging mask.
"Never-mind," Isabella said, stuffing the card back in the middle of the deck, "false alarm."
Clementine didn't think much of it. And on her way out, she asked if she could pay her somehow. But then again, that terrified look flashed n her face, and she simply said "no need child. This one is one me. You take care of yourself."
And just like that, Clementine was back in the blinding sunlight, feeling a bit like it was all a fever dream.
And yet, she felt a surge of something she hasn't felt before this meeting. A certain confidence in her actions. Right there and then, she decided she'd go to the funeral.
