He turns, checking behind us, always looking over his shoulder. Never believing he isn't going to look just this time only to see the past catching up with us, as it has been stalking us all along. Only by laying down huge swaths of fire has he been able to throw it off, force it back and cover our tracks in the process.
Close your eyes, Bridgie. It's so bright and beautiful, I don't want you to love the flames the way I do. He presses my head tightly against his chest with one hand. I don't want you to see this.
And I don't look. This is one thing curiosity doesn't try and override, like everything else. I screw my eyes shut tightly and press my face against the flannel of his shirt. I can feel his heart pounding but it's strong. I feel safe. I feel the heat from the flames but I'm not afraid here, in this place with him.
Did she tell you your cards?
Yes, but I think she lied.
What are they?
The Wheel of Fortune and the Magician.
She didn't lie, Bridgie.
But you're the magician!
I am. It's fate, Peanut.
What is the Wheel for then?
It means our luck is going to change. Big time.
I hope it doesn't. I want everything to stay the way it is.
It can't.
What are your cards? Did you ask her?
The Star and the Strength.
What do they mean?
It means I witness perfection and resist the urge to improve it. At the same time I have to keep the balance of power of nature in check. I can't force things or relax them. When I figure out how to combine them I will realize my true self. Or something like that. I'll be lit from within.
Aren't you already?
You can see this. I don't know it yet.
Do you believe her?
She's just a messenger.
Oh. Well then now what?
We stay close together and live our lives as predestined.
But can't we change them? Our lives?
Sure, you can act out of turn or live counter intuitively to your intuition but that isn't a good idea. It's better to stick to your path. It has your name on it.
But what if I didn't?
Then bad things will happen. Why risk it?
Close your eyes, Bridgie. It's so bright and beautiful, I don't want you to love the flames the way I do. He presses my head tightly against his chest with one hand. I don't want you to see this.
And I don't look. This is one thing curiosity doesn't try and override, like everything else. I screw my eyes shut tightly and press my face against the flannel of his shirt. I can feel his heart pounding but it's strong. I feel safe. I feel the heat from the flames but I'm not afraid here, in this place with him.
Did she tell you your cards?
Yes, but I think she lied.
What are they?
The Wheel of Fortune and the Magician.
She didn't lie, Bridgie.
But you're the magician!
I am. It's fate, Peanut.
What is the Wheel for then?
It means our luck is going to change. Big time.
I hope it doesn't. I want everything to stay the way it is.
It can't.
What are your cards? Did you ask her?
The Star and the Strength.
What do they mean?
It means I witness perfection and resist the urge to improve it. At the same time I have to keep the balance of power of nature in check. I can't force things or relax them. When I figure out how to combine them I will realize my true self. Or something like that. I'll be lit from within.
Aren't you already?
You can see this. I don't know it yet.
Do you believe her?
She's just a messenger.
Oh. Well then now what?
We stay close together and live our lives as predestined.
But can't we change them? Our lives?
Sure, you can act out of turn or live counter intuitively to your intuition but that isn't a good idea. It's better to stick to your path. It has your name on it.
But what if I didn't?
Then bad things will happen. Why risk it?