Sam's Destiny

“I can't believe I am doing this,” Samantha groaned. Her best friend had set up a meeting, one that she was not sure she wanted. “Is it too late to back out of this stupid meeting? I mean come on Jeff, you know I don't believe in psychics.”

“Madame Sonya has already made the arrangements to be at the Main coffee shop, just to see you,” He was excited for his friend to find out what was in store for her future, and he hated that she pretended not to care one way or the other. “Stop with the shy bullshit, we both know that you want to know what the future has in store for you. Do you get your wish of marrying Ryan or do you marry the equally hunky Van? Man talk about the troubles of the fortunate, with either man you choose, you have the best possible scenario.”

Sam grabbed her coat, irritated that she had agreed to this horrendous idea. Jeff was right, there a mild curiosity on her part but her heart laid with her boyfriend Ryan, as it always had. However with Ryan off at war, her father had arranged a marriage for her to the senators son. While she liked Van just fine, she had even gone as far as admitting that she was attracted to him, nothing would ever stop her from being dedicate it to being married to Ryan. “Let's go and get this over with, OK?”

No words passed between the friends as they made their way to the coffee shop. None needed to as they knew what the other was thinking. Jeff wondered if there might be a guy on the horizon for him, someone to love and share his life with, while Samantha wondered how she would let Van down easily and without inciting her fathers wrath. Each figured the best possible scenario would be if Van were gay and fell for Jeff. If that were the case Samantha would gladly be their cover for them,so that they could be happy. It was unlikely that was the case though, as Van had tried to kiss her after their first date, saying that he liked the fact that they shared the emotion of missing someone they loved deeply.

Upon arriving at the coffee shop, Samantha ordered an iced tea with lemon and extra sugar, Jeff settled for a water. They looked around and found the psychic that would tell them their futures. As they made their way over to her, each noted the oddness of her appearance. Her loose fitting mu-mu had stars and moon covering every inch of the fabric, while her hair had been dyed a deep black and looked unnatural against her alabaster skin. She swept her arms around her magnanimously “Welcome, welcome you must have so many questions for me,”

“You are not Madame Sonya,” Jeff noted rudely. He took an immediate dislike to the woman that was in front of him. Everything about her seemed to be off, from her appearance to the fact that she did not have a crystal ball out, something that his regular medium always had. “I don't think I want to talk to you.”

“Then don't, I am not here for you, dear boy. I am here for Samantha, she is the one who has led me to be here today,” The woman patted the seat across from her, encouraging Samantha to sit. “Have no fear dear, I realize we have never met before. However my gift allows me to be connected to people who need me more than they want to. I am Zerica, a traveling gypsy.”

Samantha sat, not sure what she felt, or if she wanted to speak with this lady, yet feeling compelled to. Jeff walked away without a word, a habit of his that irritating and yet right now quite endearing. As she took in a deep breath she noticed that the anxious feeling that she had felt only minutes before was not gone, replaced with a calming feeling. “Madame Zerica, my friend brought me here, I'm not sure I should be talking to you.”

“Just Zerica, no madame dear. And of course you should be talking to me, there is much for me to tell you. For starters dear, the three men in your life need to be there. One is an older gentleman, probably your father, there is heat there, anger it feels like. Cool the anger at least for now, the outcome of what he has done will benefit you for ages to come. The newest man in your life, not the one you walked in with but another one, he will love you deeply and you will come to care for him,”

Sam held up her hand as if to say 'stop', she wanted to rise but a force stronger than her held her down. It felt as if the weight of the world was now squarely on her shoulders, like if she moved then the entire world would change. “Zerica, please. If my father hired you to make me give up, to keep me from being angry, I have no use for that.”

“No dear, he didn't. I have no connection to anyone or anything around you,” Zerica took a deep breath, her eyes flitted and her body convulsed. “The man that you love is in serious trouble, he will be home but not the same. Samantha you will have an adventure ahead of you, one in which if you lose the entire world will end. If you win, if you finish this, the man that you love will be your husband but not.”

Samantha stood up and moved away from Zerica. Once she found Jeff, she signaled that she was ready to go. He asked no questions as they left the coffee shop, finally she said “Apparently I am going to save the world.”

Word Count 1000