Lia stood for a long time outside the small shop. The windows were almost too clear. Crystalline as the lights inside seemed to glitter rather than shine. Almost like the bulbs were meant to resemble fire light of candles. Book shelves in the back were shadowed, appearing dark and worn. Velvet covered seating looked plush but delicate, seat within deep mahogany wood work. A table in the middle of the room, sparsely covered with wares set on a tablecloth of deep blue and gold. She sighed but something was leading her here. Looking around gave no inspiration to move here in a different direction. The blanket of night seemed to pause just above her. The line between night and day, dark and light, stars and the fading sun were all held in stasis in this moment. Only considering taking her first steps towards the door to see if this place was even open, did the shopkeeper seem to spontaneously appear before her. For a moment it was like looking into a mirror. A reflection of a near future version of herself. Same deep brown complexion, same brown eyes, but the locs were longer and there were grey strands littered throughout each one. And oddly, the shopkeeper looked happy, less tired. Why? More importantly, how.

The woman on the other side smiled and opened the door.

“Would you like to come in?,” she asked.

Lia didn’t say anything but offered a nod as she was let in. The smell of a meal and the remnants of sage greeted her. Music played faintly in the background. Now finally inside, Lia didn’t know what to do.

“Please, sit. I was going to close soon but I saw you standing outside. Contemplating.”

“A psychic with security cameras?,” Lia said jokingly.

The woman laughed, “Well, I can’t see everything. What brings you here?”

“A conundrum of terrible choices.”

“You’d be surprised how often people say that. You I tend to believe.”

“Why is that?”

“You stood there long enough to assess somethings. The store is closed but you are more than free to go. That little uptick in your heart rate is easy to read. Should I go on?”

Lia crossed her arms at the challenge, “Go ahead.”

“There’s an old bruise on your right shoulder. The slight shimmy in adjustment gave that one away but I know it happened just nine nights ago. And yes, we do look similar. You recently discovered something, decided to pay attention to your own dreams. You would never come to this side of town. How am I doing so far?”

“Accurate,” Lia said trying to hide a hard swallow.

“You realized that you could leave. Your car is about 6 buildings down. Safe. Somewhere familiar in a way you can’t understand.” The woman sighed and sat next to her, “You will want to run after I tell you this next thing. I know your mother. You were raised by an aunt, one of two. I’m your aunt. The three of us had daughters near the same time.”

Lia stood up and paced a bit.

“The ‘conundrum of terrible choices’ you speak of, unfortunately, are not all your own. Dinner is ready if you choose. The door is unlocked for the same reason.”

Lia leaned against a bookshelf and stared at her feet, “Why am I here?”

“Because your cousins are in trouble. Your mother has passed. And you felt it all happen and needed someone who believed you. You also liberated yourself in a way that just might get you in trouble. That boy is something of a tiger. He’ll find you eventually and you’ll have another decision to make. “

“No he—“

The woman sighed, “Nope. You got pretty close which is impressive considering you lack much. You have a healer’s gift and in that, even in its darkness, will keep you from going to far if you are not clear on your intention. You were clear on leaving and nothing else.”

Lia slid to the floor. The woman…her aunt was right, she should be running. The only thing that seemed to be keeping her adrenaline from making all the decisions was a heavy presence of connection and peace that strengthened with the truth of her aunt’s words.

“I imagine you have two weeks before he comes for you. Less, if where he must heal he must talk or worse, be examined. You can eat, leave, stay and learn, whatever you want.”

“You said something about cousins.”

“I also mentioned you had a healer’s gift. Usually you kids ask about that part first. Wide eyed and child like, like you discovered a super power. Why worry about girls you don’t know?”

“I already knew about the gift, sorta.” Lia took a deep breath and a bruise appeared on her cheek, the same age as the one her aunt was able to divine.

“An expert novice. I guess I’ll have my work cut out for me.”

Her aunt waved her hand and all of the lights went out and the door locked as lights behind her came on and led them to a small kitchenette area.

D. Ondria

05252024

P.S. if this is your prompt and you want to be tagged or a link to your site, just let me know. Not all prompts have info on them… All found on/via Pinterest or Instagram