4 This is Beyond Stupid

Destiny

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It was almost nine pm when we got to Psychic. Bless the somewhat decent drive, or whatever it was that rocked Saffron into a deep sleep.

Mrs. Knight had yet another long conversation to prepare herself for, just like the past years or so.

If I knew she'd be so interested in this part of my life, I would've only told her recently to refrain from hearing the same thing over and over.

It really does get tiring.

Here's the thing with Saffron, she loves all things fantasy and she considers this moment of my life as "fate" or some crazy talk like that. She says I wasn't named "Destiny" for nothing, which actually matches perfectly to whatever she's trying to get across.

"Wake up, Saf!" I yell into her ear.

"Are we there yet?" she yawned.

"Yup. Why else would I have woken you?"

I grab my phone from the water bottle holder where I left it to charge, and unbuckle my seat belt.

Not even bothering to wait for her, I threw my car keys at Saffron and yelled, "don't forget to lock the door!" while jogging towards Psychic.

"Destiny Alders, my favourite customer," Mrs. Knight greets, as I come through the doors.

"Mrs. Knight!" I greet back, walking towards her, offering a nice big hug.

I'm really good at those.

She looks down at my hands, smelling the delicious treats they were holding onto.

"Cookies? You got me cookies?" she asks, with bright eyes and a vibrant smile.

Bless her inner child.

"We got you the cookies," Saffron corrects, coming in through the door.

"Saffron, get over here," motioned Mrs. Knight, joining Saffron into our long-time-no-see hug.

Well actually, it was an I-saw-you-last-week hug, but same thing.

Since eleventh grade, Saffron and I were only able to make weekly visits because of our overloaded school work. We did our part and eventually learned to balance everything.

"You girls want some hot cocoa?" she offers, already knowing the answer.

"Of course we do!" Saffron and I sing in unison.

I watch patiently as Mrs. Knight disappears into the back of her shop, where she'd normally go to, to make the hot cocoa.

Once she was fully out of sight, I made my way over to my usual spot and sat down.

I sat overtop a nice thick mattress that was decorated with four fluffy pillows, and a cotton green sheet, covering the wooden window seat, which sat just in front of the shop.

There was a nice ledge where I could lean my back on if I wanted to relax, which I did often do.

I was surrounded by books that I've already read a dozen times, due to boredom, but today, and for quite a while now, this was becoming my favourite spot to write in my journal.

Seeing Mrs. Knight is always a pleasure.

Today was different though.

I've known her long enough to see when she's putting up a front. I know her usually happy self, and today was not it.

"Something off about Mrs. Knight today?" I ask, Saffron, hoping that I wasn't the only one that noticed.

Saffron took a seat across from me, crossing her legs over top one another. It could just be me, but I swear, Mrs. Knight doesn't seem as happy as she usually does.

"She seemed pretty normal to me," she shrugs. "And if there's any problem, she could just be having one of those days. It's a common thing for us, homosapiens."

Well, I hope she's right.

And, did she just refer to us as homosapiens?

"What are you writing about?"

I gave Saffron a certain look and she knew right away what— I mean, who I was writing about.

Funny.

The feeling is back.

But, he's clearly not here.

What's going on?

A sense of familiarity hit me like a sudden storm, and suddenly, my mind was brought back to the hallway where I had first encountered the blue-eyed stranger, this morning.

I thought hard about that moment.

I thought carefully about him.

"I know him, I know I do."

"Destiny you alright?" Saffron asks, eyeing me.

Oh shoot, I was so lost in thought that I completely forgot she was sitting right in front of me.

Did I say that out loud?

"Oh sorry, I was just, uh—"

"Girls your hot cocoa."

We turn our attention towards the wonderful smell, only to see Mrs. Knight carefully making her way towards us, holding two mugs in her hands.

Saved by the "bell."

Hot cocoa topped with whipped cream.

Perfection.

Handing one cup to me and the other to Saffron, the two, made their way to the front counter while I stayed seated. Saffron was yet again, excited to hear what Mrs. Knight had to say about our first meeting.

"Tell me why Marissa was teary-eyed when she saw Destiny!!" Saffron begun.

Mrs. Knight laughed and briefly explained to her that Marissa has apparently always wanted a daughter.

"Did you guys know she was coming? What's up with all the thank you's Marissa was throwing at Destiny? Where is she now? Is she really on a business trip?! Oh, come on, you do fortune-telling right! You must've known Destiny was coming!"

"Saffron, shut up," I shout from my side of the room, hoping to save Mrs. Knight from her wild imagination.

Usually, she'd wait until Mrs. Knight was done with the— as she would call it, "storytelling" but no. This time, she jumped straight into her questions. She really was living in her own world.

But I love her anyway.

Before continuing to speak, Mrs. Knight took a deep breath. "I can foresee the future Saffron, and to be honest with you," she paused. I looked up interested in what Mrs. Knight had to say. "I did know someone was coming that night."

Wait what?

Did any of this matter?

"Ohmygod, I knew it," she turns her head towards me. "It wasn't just one of your everyday nature walks, and you didn't just come in here for shelter!"

I roll my eyes at her forwardness and she turns back towards Mrs. Knight.

"Go on Mrs. Knight, tell her," she said hopeful and with excitement.

"Well, you see girls," she turned to face me. "Destiny, that night, Marissa and I were expecting someone of age to come into Psychic. However, that someone turned out to be 9-year-old you, Destiny."

What is she saying?

This is beyond stupid.

Was Saffron on to something? From what I recall, everything about that night was completely normal.

She continued. "We weren't expecting a 9-year-old child. But no matter what age, you were meant to take that pen, Destiny. Now it might not make sense, because it's just a pen, but let's just say there were no alterations. Fate is fate, and that's all you have to know."

I stared down at my pen at a loss for words.

I didn't know how to react.

What was she saying? Why was she only telling me now? Was this information even relevant?

After that night, nothing special happened. I remember mom and I going home, I tested the pen like I normally do, and then I went to bed.

Wait.

Maybe it doesn't have to be the exact night that I got it.

The only weird experience I've ever had with this pen was the night before my thirteenth birthday. And of course, just like everything else, it was written in my journal.

"Sweetheart, you okay?" Mrs. knight questioned.

She was worried. I could easily hear it in her voice.

"I'm fine, just continue with the questions, Saffron," I reassured not even bothering to look up, as I flipped through my journal.

There it was.

The first and the only journal entry that was not about my feelings, not about my day, and certainly not about me.

What the hell was I thinking that night?

Looking back I don't even remember writing or even ever reading this. After all, I'd usually close my book after writing.

Why would I read what I write anyway?

"She's probably thinking about that new guy she met earlier. He just moved here."

I throw a pillow her way, silently telling her to shut up.

Really, Saf?

"He just moved here?" Mrs. Knight asks.

"Well yeah, it's a not a big city. Everyone recognizes the new faces," Saffron shrugs.

"Do you girls happen to know his name?"

"Nope. Not yet."

Saffron turns to face me.

"Right, Des?"

I shake my head and smile down at my book.

"Know of anyone new, Mrs. Knight?"

Worrisome flashes across her eyes before she speaks.

"No."

• • • • • •

Thanks for reading!