ON THE RUN

       Good times don't last.

  
    Talia

After the lovely evening with father Moreno, it was finally time to head back home. "So, you are a believer?" I began as soon as we were inside the car. 

He fastened his seat belt.  "I never said I wasn't." then reached for my palm and kissed it. 

I wanted nothing more than to kiss him but when we were about to, his phone rang. "Hold that thought, Lia," he said before answering the call. 

 "Yes?" he began, his face was suddenly serious. 

Maybe more bad news. 

 He switched from English to French and I couldn't make a word or two. "Okay." his response was terse, his tone a combination of monotonous and angry. He looked at me for a second then hang up his phone and roared the engine to life.

  "Don't tell me it's more bad news," I voiced my thoughts out loud. 

 "No. It's nothing important. I have something to do in town. How about I leave you at the beauty salon while I run some errands and afterwards we can have dinner or do whatever you want." 

 I agreed. "A girl can't say no to that." 

 We arrived in Brixeria thirty minutes later and luckily the saloon was still open "Here," he handed me a few notes. "I won't belong. Call me in case of anything." he pecked my cheek before leaving. 

  I strode inside the saloon, taking note of the pink painted walls, the filled tables on the corner, a few people were in the dry and others reading magazines as they had their nails painted. Two and a half hours later, I stepped out feeling rejuvenated. The aesthetic treatment was excellent and my hair was curled backwards nicely.  

I checked my phone but he hadn't called. I decided to head to the restaurant across the street and on the way, I bumped into an old woman whose bags came crushing on the ground. "Sorry! I'm sorry." I said while picking the stuff. "Are you alright?"

The woman smiled. "I'm fine. This happens to people like me frequently. It's either we trip or fall and if neither knocks then death swallows. Please, help me get to the bench over there?" 

I placed everything I had aside and helped her by the bench then I went back to get her stuff. The bags weren't that light to carry and I wondered what she was carrying.

"You are so kind, child," she shuffled into her bags and fished out some tarot cards. "Pick a card"

I half grinned and replied, "No, thank you. I'll be on my way now,"

"Wait!" She began shuffling the cards then pulled three and placed the rest on the bench. "Don't you want to know your future?"

  "It's best not to. I don't want to know if I'll die at any moment. Thank you."

 "You don't have to believe if you want to," She flipped one card and showed me the ace of swords.  "Mm, you are going to have challenges that might cause heartache or betrayals from those close to you. Only if you stay true to your heart you might overcome them."

 I moved closer eager for more. "Betrayal? I've seen worse," 

 She smiled and flipped the other card. "Lovers card"

  My interest peaked. "What will happen to my love life?"

  She smiled. "There are three men in your life, one represents death, the other a good life full of lies and this last one his aura is tainted by blood and only your love can redeem him. You have to choose wisely and trust your intuition along with your rational intellect. You will have to compromise some things in life but if you trust yourself everything will fall into place."