The Tarot Deck (short version)

Amber wasn't paying attention to where she was going. She wandered all the way to the west end of town and stopped in front of a small store.

NEW AGE HORIZONS

Looks interesting, Amber thought, trying the door. She poked her head inside.

"Come in, I've been waiting." An old lady in a purple gown appeared before her. "Don't be frightened."

The old lady poured them each a cup of tea and motioned for Amber to have a seat. They sat across from each other and sipped their tea.

"What kind of tea is this?" Amber asked.
"Mugwort. I know why you're here," the woman spoke quietly. "You are unhappy in life. Unsure where you're going. I can help."
"How?"
"I have something for you. It will help you make decisions." The woman pulled a small bag from her robe and handed it to Amber.

Amber opened the bag and found a deck of cards. They had beautiful artwork on them and strange names like "The Fool" and "The Magician".

"It's a Tarot Deck. Here's a book that will teach you."

When she got home, Amber glanced through the book. She removed the cards from their bag and shuffled them a few times. After studying the layout in the book, she laid the cards out in an identical pattern on her desk.

She looked at the first card. "The Fool. That figures, I'm a fool for playing with these things." Still, she looked it up in the book. "The Fool is the card of possibilities.He's on his way to a new beginning. Watch your step, lest you fall and end up looking the fool."

"Good advice," Amber mused. "A new beginning sure sounds nice."

She checked the second card: "Death!" She felt nervous. Then, felt silly. They're only cards. You really are a fool!

She decided to go to Lake Park for awhile and watch the ducks. Soon, she dozed off.

When she opened her eyes, it was dark. No one was around. She glanced at her watch. Ten P.M. She jumped up and ran for home.

Amber sat on her bed, she felt queasy and strange. What on earth had happened? She pulled the cards from her pocket and shuffled them.

She turned up the first card. "Death". She frowned, but reminded herself that it was not in itself a negative card. She turned up the second one. "The Devil". Something was not right. She could feel it.
Third: "The Hanged Man"
Fourth: "The Tower"
Fifth: "The Moon"
Sixth: "Ten of Swords"
Seventh: "Judgment"

She knew something was wrong, but hadn't wanted to admit it. All this time, feeling cold, frightened, she should have felt her heart racing, but...nothing. She had run all the way home without gasping for breath.

She hadn't fallen asleep. She had died.

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