The Calm of Greece

*5*

If someone were to tell her that a year ago, she would be actually sitting down with friends as useless chatter filled the air with side-splitting laughter, Feriah would have laughed at them. But there she was, sitting on the veranda with Habibah and Neema, laughing at debauchery that the men had created over time. The sweet drinks and treats before them gave her more proof that she had relaxed more than she ever had, watching as Habibah laid out the cards before them.

"Really woman, you are doing it again?" Neema said to her.

"Why not, never know what fortune will bring you." she replied placing the cards out.

"Never knew you for a fortune teller." Feriah nodded at her.

"Eiraf, Feriah. A seer in terms." the woman corrected her.

"The difference?"

"Some fortune tellers rely on known knowledge and swindle people out of money." Habibah explained, "I, however, do it for my own want and knowledge of seeing. I was lucky to be taught it."

"In the world you lived in, I'm amazed you weren't killed." Neema stated.

Habibah nodded to her, "True. I was just lucky that not many knew."

"Guessing it was bad for you." Feriah questioned.

"Oh, it was. Pretty much in the same line of work you do, but instead of being the savior I was the one being saved."

Feriah felt herself recoil, knowing the world that children survived in those places, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"No, no!" Habibah waved her hands at her, "I'm not upset, glad actually that there is someone out there that actually cares about people like me."

She watched as the woman sunk into her memories, "It was hard, no doubt about it. My father was what some would see as radical, my mother blindly followed with others. It was my grandmother and neighbor that taught me the art of seeing the rest of the way, they always told me I was special. But when the times changed more drastically, they did more than most would ever, plus when the knowledge to sell off children for money and the good of the cause, it was just easier to give my sisters and I up. Males were better in that world, but you already know that."

"I've seen boys in the circles as well, no child of either gender is safe from that world. Not even of skin or religion." Feriah noted.

"Then you know." Habibah went back to her cards, "Now let's see."

"Who did you channel this time?" Neema asked, sipping the sweet lime drink.

"Our Feriah." was all she said.

"Oh lord, now I'm terrified." Feriah joked, making Neema giggle at her and Habibah shake her head at her.

She watched as the woman flipped the cards over, looking over everything that was before her, barely understanding the faces of the cards.

"Well, I see that you have struggled, a path full of sadness and pain yet you have overcome it with great knowledge and power. Then I see that you have a challenge before you, one that you are questioning over as well. Unsure of what will come of it and where it may lead. And then the last I see is bright, your days ahead will be full. A lover with you as the future continues on."

Feriah listened intently, trying to see what she was hinting at, yet deep down she barely believed the words, "Wow, so what does it mean?"

"You had a rough past yet you learned from it and made yourself a better person. You have a challenge before you that you are unsure of what ti think of it. if I was to guess it's not the ring you are working on now but your partner that you have helping you. Now for future, you will be happy and have a good outlook on things. If I were to guess, a husband and children." Habibah explained.