The Western Gate

It doesn’t matter that the subject matter of this story had ‘only’ been obsessing over the woman of his dreams for a few months. As everyone can well remember, when the arrow of Eros strikes the heart, time itself is but an event horizon where all that preceded was insignificant and all that follows is the pathway to eternity where the future and everything thereof rests between oneself, and their now acquainted want of ‘that’ lover, forever. Happily ever after.
He longed for her, the sleepless nights measured by how long he could fix her in his mind, how he could fascinate himself with scenarios of their being together and the experiences they’d both enjoy, and oh, how she would enjoy them, being in his company
Such was the nature of his infatuation, which far from diminishing was ever increasing he decided , with reason, to alleviate his brooding mind by seeking a certain fortune teller, to once and for all put to rest or perpetuate in motion his burning desire.
The session booked and in no time he found himself being ushered down a basement of a bookshop that sold curios and arcane books of the nature of mysticism, esoteric and other occult subjects.
Nervously he sat outside and could hear her voice summarising this, that and the other to the client within.
The curtain drawn apart and a slightly bemused rotund lady exited, it wasn’t a good sign, she had obviously not heard what she wanted to hear, but then, that’s a good sign, the fortune teller would not hesitate to reveal what she has uncovered. Honesty. He. Needed! To Know.
She, the teller, was a beautiful Indian woman, her eyes large and alluring. She wasn’t a figure befitting of subjective design of beauty, well not in this century, she was a fuller figure, enjoyer of life and its fruits but positively glowing healthy, yes, that aura of mysticism and hidden beauty.
Our subject sat nervously across from her, on the table a pack of large playing cards. She sat down, and for a moment paused as she looked at the subject before her, some would say looking for signs that would help her reading, body language, the subtle art of tells, the slights that reveal more than the fanciful masquerade we all portray of ourselves.
“What?” she enquired, ” are you here to learn of today?”, her manner put him at ease, softly spoken and sincere.

He looked face down, almost embarrassed and uneasy with the situation, “I have, I would like to know, about a relationship, whether it …is… a good match or whether, whether, to move on.”
Throughout this the teller with hands held lightly together nodded emphatically, without judgement.
“This,” she begun shuffling the cards, “is a relationship that has not yet begun?”
Now, I digress from the story. It is obvious not least by the ambiguous way he declared his question as such but even so, by our subjects mannerisms and by his nervous shuffling and cute embarrassment and failure to look her in the eye that this wasn’t a relationship that had been a going concern, that yes, of course it had not yet happened. Our teller, gives the assurance to the subject that she knows, she knows all… and he now marvelled, that he was in the right place, the oracle the seer, the fortune teller.

“No,” he answered and for a moment almost caught her glance as his eyes darted across hers, but such was his embarrassment, again to the sanctuary of a nether space his eyes fell, “it is a relationship that I would like to know whether it is worth pursuing”

“Let us see,” said the teller handing the large cards to the subject.
He clumsily shuffled as she told him to picture in his mind the person he thought of, that which had overwhelmed his heart and mind these past few months.

“Now place one card down.”

So it was he turned over a card and there before him, a couple, both reaching for each as cupid fired an arrow towards them, The Lovers.
“Now,” said the teller,” had I asked you to pick a card that would signify your question, then this would be the card. Indeed, though perhaps a test, all love at first hurdle is a test, the arrow is fired and the course of the matter is its foundation. It is a good omen. Sometimes when people ask of relationships I will pull this card face up and begin, but fate and destiny has chosen this anyway, very auspicious”
His heart was racing, in the card he saw a female, and a man, above guided by the cherub the arrow from heaven to unite their hearts.
the teller sat back a little, ” I now want you,” she said, “to place a card to the left, and then a card to the right, that upon the left is the negative force to the situation, and to the right, the positive, that which is required to bring about the resolution?”
The subject understood and again with fumbling hands shuffled the cards before placing two at the positions she had requested.
To the left, the four of cups, and to the right The Knight of swords.

For a short pause which created anxiety somewhat in the subject before she explained.
” This card”, she said pointing to the Four of cups, ” these dreams that seem to have reigned you in, the feelings that as you want will fail in your understanding, the pipe dreams we want to happen but we allow to pass us by for fear of failure, and here,” she said now pointing at the gallant knight riding headlong into a situation,” you must, take the challenge, you must declare and make yourself known, it may be obvious but this card of suppressing dreams holds back the charge, and this card, the knight what you must do.”
The subject perplexed, knew that what she said was true, too long had his mind been consumed with the idea, with the desire as a fleeting glimpse into what could be.
” Place above the three cards another” she declared and pointed to the area above them awaiting for him to reveal that which lay above the scene.

The Two of Cups, a man and a woman in embrace, ” The partnership,” she said, ” the cards evermore revealing this situation, as perfect as I could have laid them out myself, ” and now she said pointing to the bottom of the cards, “let us see the outcome, if you negate the dream and illusion, and as brave as the knight take charge and declare your love…..”
This was the card… he dreaded, would it reveal failure, abandonment, shame, he pulled out a card that seemed to sing to him and the veil raised he placed the card upright.

The Ace of cups.
The cup runneth over.
” Oh!!” she squealed almost, ” you must make your feelings known as this is the promise that your love is perfected. the fulfilment and completion, abundance of love and unity”
The subject declared, ” but, as the four of cups show, I am shy to do so, for she knows me not, she doesn’t even know my feelings, and barely has she seen me, for I have loved her from afar? How can I declare my love if out of the blue I came charging forward to declare such,” he emphasised pointing to the knight of swords.”
“Oh,” she interrupted, “look,” pointing to the Ace of cups, “the sign is good, perfect, love will flourish. You must declare your love.”
The subject paused for a while and then spoke, ” then, let me say, it is you I love, it has been you for many months since I first drew eyes upon you in this bookshop many moons ago, it is your heart I seek…”

The fortune-teller, ashen, the oracle of knowledge and that which was to be, clouded. She had not seen this coming.