………….

“If you ask me a question, I’ll give you an answer,” the fortune teller said, “but you should know… there are no answers you’ll like. Honestly, I’d prefer not to read your fortune at all.”

I stared at the glass case, the antiquated figure frozen inside. Surely she said that to everyone, yet her words rattled me. I don’t know how long I stood there before deciding not to tempt fate.

My friends ran up behind me, coins clinking, each popping one in for the usual cheerful, generic reply. One leaned toward me, grinning. “Your turn.”

“Not today,” I said, feeling genuinely unsettled…