And Another One

I met another fortune teller, or rather a psychic man. Though this one couldn’t just see my past like the previous one, but also my future. I’ve walked past him countless times, an old man sitting on a stone bench near the church, facing the sea. This time he spoke to me and told me about myself. I guess I’m writing it down because I believed him. I know. But maybe you had to be there…

He said he could see my life up until 85 years old without any major physical illnesses. And he said I will never find love. I’m sorry, he said, but it’s life. Love is not for everyone. But, he said, you will have many beautiful moments in your life. Because you look for them, and also because you’re lucky to be there when they happen. So your life will feel full. I didn’t feel particularly sad when he told me, though a single tear rolled down my cheek. Maybe because I wasn’t that surprised to hear it. He repeated it many times: you won’t find love.

Then he took me for a coffee, though I had tea and he a Cuba Libre. He was very particular about his drink. We talked some more and he offered to meet me twice a week to ‘try and help me’. Whatever that means. I’d like to believe in the kindness of strangers, and the fact is I can use all the help I get. I’m also curious, I guess.

Though I’d like to pass the evening off as an intriguing chance encounter, the truth is I’m quite shaken by the things he said. Not the love bit, necessarily. I have more pressing concerns than that. And I guess I wish help could come from such an unlikely corner…