Searching Civilization
Natalie led Andy to a back room. She had seen some crazy shit doing LSD and mushrooms in her hippie Berkley and Haight Ashbury days, but she couldn’t begin to fathom the décor in Natalie’s room—crystal balls, bottles of potions, charms and talismans of all kinds.
“Honey, have a seat,” Natalie said directing Andy to a plush parlor chair.
Andy sat uncomfortable awaiting her fate. “I’m looking for—”
Natalie sat opposite her and took Andy’s hands in hers. “Don’t speak. Don’t ask me any questions. It disturbs my vision.” She sensed Andy’s confusion. “We often ask questions when the answers are already within us. When we start asking questions and not trusting our inner answers, we stray off path.” She gazed deeply into Andy’s eyes as if trying to see her soul. “Very interesting.”
“What?” Andy asked. “What do you see?”
“I see you are searching for someone who is lost, but they cannot be found until you discover yourself,” she said.
“Huh?” Andy grunted.
Natalie smiled sweetly. “Love is not to be hunted like a wild animal. You can’t expect to track it down and keep it in a cage for your desire. Love will only come to you once you are truly ready to receive it.”
“But—” Andy sighed.
“There are no buts. They only exist when we doubt our journey.” Natalie sat back and gazed deeply into Andy’s eyes. “My dear, you are very fortunate. Your angels have awarded a choice.”
Andy chuckled. “I have angels? No, just little imps making my life a complete joke.”
“We all have angels here to help us get through life.”
“Okay then, what kind of choices are they awarding me?”
“To take the journey closest to your heart. It will be challenging, but ultimately will be greatly fulfilling, or you can take the path society deems appropriate and live in mild contentment.”
“That’s it? That’s my fortune—a choice?” Andy questioned.
“You should feel fortunate. Many in this life do not get choices. Many have their lives dictated to them by family, friends and even society. They are not free to live as they choose. You, my dear have that great fortune. It really is a blessing.”
“But what about—” Andy asked.
“Study the stars. Your answers are there.”
“What? Astrology? He’s a Sagittarius.”
Natalie laughed.
“You’re laughing at me. I am paying for answers, not choices.”
“Sweetheart, if I were to give you answers I would be doing you a great disservice. Make your choice. Live your life either in association with your heart or society.”
“Live my life with my heart or society? Why not both? I don’t understand.”
Natalie smiled. “Follow your heart.”
“Can you tell me at least one thing? Is he still alive?” Andy asked.
Natalie placed her hand on Andy’s shoulder. “If he wasn’t, you wouldn’t be offered the gift of choice.”
Andy bit her lip and nodded. She stalked out of the back room toward Alisha. “Well, that was a load of crap,” she whispered and headed out the door.
“Honey, have a seat,” Natalie said directing Andy to a plush parlor chair.
Andy sat uncomfortable awaiting her fate. “I’m looking for—”
Natalie sat opposite her and took Andy’s hands in hers. “Don’t speak. Don’t ask me any questions. It disturbs my vision.” She sensed Andy’s confusion. “We often ask questions when the answers are already within us. When we start asking questions and not trusting our inner answers, we stray off path.” She gazed deeply into Andy’s eyes as if trying to see her soul. “Very interesting.”
“What?” Andy asked. “What do you see?”
“I see you are searching for someone who is lost, but they cannot be found until you discover yourself,” she said.
“Huh?” Andy grunted.
Natalie smiled sweetly. “Love is not to be hunted like a wild animal. You can’t expect to track it down and keep it in a cage for your desire. Love will only come to you once you are truly ready to receive it.”
“But—” Andy sighed.
“There are no buts. They only exist when we doubt our journey.” Natalie sat back and gazed deeply into Andy’s eyes. “My dear, you are very fortunate. Your angels have awarded a choice.”
Andy chuckled. “I have angels? No, just little imps making my life a complete joke.”
“We all have angels here to help us get through life.”
“Okay then, what kind of choices are they awarding me?”
“To take the journey closest to your heart. It will be challenging, but ultimately will be greatly fulfilling, or you can take the path society deems appropriate and live in mild contentment.”
“That’s it? That’s my fortune—a choice?” Andy questioned.
“You should feel fortunate. Many in this life do not get choices. Many have their lives dictated to them by family, friends and even society. They are not free to live as they choose. You, my dear have that great fortune. It really is a blessing.”
“But what about—” Andy asked.
“Study the stars. Your answers are there.”
“What? Astrology? He’s a Sagittarius.”
Natalie laughed.
“You’re laughing at me. I am paying for answers, not choices.”
“Sweetheart, if I were to give you answers I would be doing you a great disservice. Make your choice. Live your life either in association with your heart or society.”
“Live my life with my heart or society? Why not both? I don’t understand.”
Natalie smiled. “Follow your heart.”
“Can you tell me at least one thing? Is he still alive?” Andy asked.
Natalie placed her hand on Andy’s shoulder. “If he wasn’t, you wouldn’t be offered the gift of choice.”
Andy bit her lip and nodded. She stalked out of the back room toward Alisha. “Well, that was a load of crap,” she whispered and headed out the door.