Written in the Stars (A Short Story)

by Carroll, Francene

  Mel: What about Greg?

  Serenity: I can only share what I’ve been given. They are telling me u are lonely.

  Mel: Not 4 much longer according to u

  Serenity: U need to get out more. U r 2 young to be sitting home alone on a Saturday nite. You must get out there & grab life by both hands. Make things happen. Don’t wait for them 2 come 2 you or life will pass u by.

  Now this was getting confusing.

  Mel: U told me not 2 do anything, 2 just wait and b patient & everything would happen when the time was right?

  There was yet another extended pause, and Melanie’s temper began to flare again. It seemed Serenity was still playing the same games.

  Serenity: Sometimes the messages r conflicting, but in paradox we often find great wisdom. Rest assured, Greg will soon be yours.

  That was profound and very true. As long as she knew that Greg was in her future she really did not mind how long Serenity took to reply. The reading was free after all.

  Mel: Thnx. What else do u c?

  The rest of the reading consisted mainly of generalizations about empowering herself to take control of her own life, but she had found out what she needed to know.

  Serenity: Hope this has been of help 2 u Mel.

  Mel: Yes. So glad to know Greg and I will be together soon. Nite.

  She was about to log off and head to bed when to her surprise another message popped up from Serenity.

  Serenity: What r u doing now?

  Mel: ?

  Serenity: I have no readings so we can chat 4 a bit longer if u want. Off the clock.

  This was unusual, but she was not very tired, and with any luck she might get some more free information about Greg.

  Mel: ok.

  Serenity: Is quiet at the mo. Gets v boring. You can help me stay awake.

  Mel: Sure. How long have u been giving readings 4?

  Serenity: Don’t really want to talk about work.

  Mel: ok. What do u want to talk about?

  Serenity: Seen any good movies lately?

  Mel: Yes! Saw Tears On My Pillow the other day. Was so moving and sweet. Have u seen it?

  Serenity: Not really into the chick flicks.

  Mel: It had a deep spiritual message.

  Serenity: Might give it a go then. What about Hell On Wheels III? Just came out. First two rocked, but this one was best.

  It was an unusual choice for a middle-aged woman, but each to their own, thought Melanie.

  Mel: My ex loved those movies.

  Serenity: He had good taste. What happened?

  Mel: Thought you’d seen them?

  Serenity: With your ex.

  Mel: Duh. Just didn’t work out. U should know that.

  Serenity: I’m psychic, not god. Can see he wasn’t right for you though.

  Mel: That’s 4 sure. He was nothing like Greg.

  There was a long pause, and Melanie hoped it was because Serenity was getting some messages from her guides about Greg. To her disappointment, she did not mention anything about him when she returned.

  Serenity: Do u wanna go and hang out in the games room 4 a while?

  Mel: Sure

  By the time Melanie got off her laptop it was almost two o’clock in the morning. She had spent most of that time chatting with Serenity and playing interactive games. Serenity had continued to give readings and answer questions over that time, and Melanie felt a bit guilty about her role in this deception when just a few hours earlier she’d been on the other end of it.

  Serenity was really good at all the games, and she had to concentrate hard to keep up with her. This helped her to ignore the fact that she was now Serenity’s accomplice in crime. Despite her best efforts, Serenity still beat her at everything except a simple word game. She obviously spent a lot of time on the internet and had really honed her skills. She had not given her any more information about Greg, but Melanie did not mind too much as she’d had a lot of fun.

  ****

  A few nights later Melanie was browsing through the site and she noticed Serenity was online. She had assured her she was always welcome to chat when she was not busy, but Melanie hesitated about bothering her when she was working. Before she could decide what to do the IM window popped open on her screen.

  Serenity: Hi there. Have no clients right now. Want 2 chat?

  Mel: Sure. What r u up to?

  Serenity: Just finished with a client who has been smoking 4 fifty years and won’t quit even though I said he has to or he’ll die

  Mel: Ewww that’s disgusting!

  Serenity: I know. Smokers r the worst. Don’t know what the attraction is.

  Mel: Me neither. Any other interesting clients 2nite?

  Serenity: One woman wanted 2 know if her cat is Cleopatra reincarnated.

  Mel: Seriously?

  Serenity: U meet a lot of whackos in this job. Another guy thought an alien was living inside him. Wanted 2 know how 2 get rid of it.

  Mel: What did u say?

  Serenity: Told him Tums always do trick 4 me hahahahaha

  Mel: U are bad!

  Melanie knew it was wrong to laugh at other people who used the website, but Serenity made it sound so funny. She told her a few more stories and an hour flew by in the blink of an eye.

  Over the next weeks they got into the habit of chatting every night, and sharing jokes and stories about their day. To her surprise Melanie realized they were becoming real friends.

  She held back on asking anymore questions about Greg because she did not want Serenity to think she was using her for her psychic powers, but as the wedding got closer she was anxious to know more. When nothing had happened four days before the wedding, she finally had to say something.

  Mel: I really need 2 book another reading with u soon. There’s stuff I need 2 know.

  Serenity: U don’t have to pay me. Just ask.

  Mel: It’s about Greg

  Serenity: I sensed u were going to ask soon. Been waiting till u brought it up.

  Melanie’s heart began to pound.

  Mel: What is it?

  Serenity: I have some important information from your guides to impart. 1st let me say nothing is ever set in stone. U have made some big leaps in your development lately. Guides no longer sure Greg is the right man 4 u.

  Mel: WTF????

  Serenity: Greg is not evolved enough 4 u anymore. There could be someone else more suitable 4 u just around the corner.

  Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. Greg was the man she had been in love with for three years. Ever since the night he had kissed her at the staff Christmas party she had thought about no one else but him. She was so sure he was the one for her, but now Serenity was trying to tell her that none of her dreams about him were going to come true. She could not possibly be right.

  Serenity: Mel r u there? I know this is a shock but the universe works in mysterious ways. I am just the messenger.

  Clearly the woman was a fraud. She could not believe she had been blind to it for so long. What kind of person told jokes about their clients, and played games with friends, while giving readings? It was highly unprofessional, not to mention immoral, and she had been so stupid to believe anything Serenity told her.

  She had paid the ultimate price too, because now she may have lost any chance she had with Greg. Melanie did not bother replying. Instead she logged out of the website and slammed her laptop closed. With her head resting on it, she tried to work out what to do next.

  ****

  The following day Melanie kept a close eye on Greg at work. If Serenity really was a fraud then she had wasted all this valuable time doing nothing when she could have let Greg know how she felt about him. If she was going to make her move, she would have to act fast. When she saw him enter the lunchroom alone, Melanie seized on her chance. It was now or never.

  He was looking for something in the fridge when she walked up and stood close behind him, waiting for him to turn around. His shoulders were so broad and manly, and she l
oved the way his shirts were always perfectly pressed. She really wanted to reach out and stroke the hair that was curling over his collar. She almost got up the nerve to do it, but he straightened up at that moment, and almost jumped out of his skin when he saw her standing there.

  “God, you scared me Mel. Did you want something from the fridge?”

  “No, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.”

  “Sure. What’s up?” He bit into his apple and Melanie took a deep breath. This was only the most important moment of her entire life.

  “Do you remember the staff Christmas party from three years ago?”

  He looked puzzled. “Not really. I was pretty tanked that night.”

  “Do you remember we played that game and… and you kissed me?”

  “Vaguely. Why?”

  Here goes everything, she thought. She just had to blurt it out before she lost her nerve. “The thing is, I’ve been in love with you since that night. I can’t think about anyone else but you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I think it’s me you’re meant to be with, not Tamara. I could make you so much happier than her. Please don’t go through with the wedding this weekend. Give me and you a chance, I know you won’t regret it.”

  The world seemed to stand still for a few moments as Greg just stared at her with his mouth hanging open. Then his eyes filled with tears, and he opened his arms and stepped forward, enclosing her in his embrace. It was exactly as she had dreamed it would be. To her amazement, his body shook with sobs. He must have felt the same way she did and been hiding his true emotions all this time. Now that he could finally let them out, it was overwhelming for him.

  When he pulled back she reluctantly let him go. He wiped the tears from his eyes and tried to compose himself, but he had to take a few deep gulping breaths before he could talk.

  “Oh my god, Mel, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. I had no idea you were such a practical joker. Did the guys put you up to this?” He dissolved again into the silent convulsions that she now recognized as hysterical laughter.

  Melanie’s stomach dropped to the floor. She plastered a smile on her face to try to hide the fact that she was dying inside. He thought she was joking! Her entire future began to crumble right before her eyes. She mumbled something about coming up with the idea herself, before taking off to the ladies room where she remained for a very long time. She could not even go home as she’d used up all of her sick days, and the rent was due that week.

  When she returned to her desk she tried to bury herself in work so that everyone would leave her alone, but for the rest of the day people kept stopping by to tell her what a great prank she had pulled. No one seemed to notice her bloodshot eyes and blotchy face.

  It was such a relief when five o’clock came around and she could get away from the scene of her humiliation. She let her shoulder’s drop with relief as she emerged from the elevator into the foyer.

  As she made her way towards the revolving doors someone called out her name and she stopped in her tracks. It sounded exactly like Greg. He must have realized she was telling the truth, and now he had come to tell her what a fool he had been for laughing at her. He probably wanted to take her out for a drink to apologize and talk things over. She turned around slowly.

  “That was a fantastic prank you pulled on Greg today. You really punked him,” called Mario, the barista who worked the coffee cart in the foyer. “You should have filmed it and put it up on Youtube. It would have got a million hits.”

  “Thanks,” she said weakly, almost running for the door.

  ****

  Melanie wanted to walk past her computer when she got home and ignore it. Instead of turning it on and allowing it suck more hours from her life, she wanted to take a stroll in the park or phone up a friend and meet them for coffee, or go and see a movie. Anything to take her mind off the terrible day she’d just had. But the lure of the laptop was too strong for her to resist, and within twenty minutes she found herself logging into the Psychic Journeys website.

  As much as she hated to admit it, Serenity had been right after all. Greg was far too unevolved for her and they could never be happy together. They were at very different stages in their spiritual development, and that was why he had made such a stupid mistake today.

  Serenity had said she could see another guy who could possibly be her destiny now that she’d outgrown Greg, and Melanie decided it could not hurt to find out a little bit more. It might help to take her mind off Greg. She saw that Serenity was already online and she quickly typed a message.

  Mel: Hi. Sorry about last night. I was cut off b4 I could say gnite.

  Serenity: No probs. How r u?

  Mel: Good. What were u saying b4 I was disconnected? Something about Greg?

  Serenity: My guides have told me u need to look 4 someone else. Greg is gone.

  Didn’t she know it.

  Mel: Ok. Where should I look?

  Serenity: Don’t laugh, they suggest online dating.

  Mel: Really?

  Serenity: Is kinda funny ya gotta admit hahahahaha

  Mel: R u pulling my leg?

  Serenity: No! There is one site called Hearts of Destiny, they want u 2 go 2. Do u know it?

  Mel: Heard of it.

  Serenity: Good. They r saying 2 look 4 man with initials JD. Dark hair / brown eyes. About 5’8. Might have music, motorbikes, computer games as interests.

  Mel: That’s v specific.

  Serenity: I’m only the messenger. They want u to get started asap.

  Mel: Ok. I’ll have a look now.

  Serenity: Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

  Serenity had seemed so adamant that Melanie felt she had no choice but to do exactly as the guides told her. After she created her profile on the site she went searching for men who matched the description.

  She found someone almost immediately who fitted the bill. He was very good-looking and she messaged Serenity to tell her she had hit pay dirt.

  Mel: Think I’ve found him! Name is Jarrod Dean. Not bad at all. Should I poke?

  Serenity responded swiftly.

  Serenity: No! He is not 4 u

  Mel: But he’s so nice and exactly what they said.

  Serenity: Guides sending v strong message that this man dangerous, possibly even serial killer. Keep looking.

  Mel: *sigh* Ok

  Within a short time she had found another man with the right initials, who fitted the description well. He was quite appealing too.

  Mel: Think this could be the one. Really sexy and has a great job.

  Serenity: Name?

  Mel: Jason Deniston.

  Serenity: Will check with guides and get back 2 u

  A couple of minutes passed and Melanie grew more excited as she read about him. He owned his own house and had travelled all over the world.

  Serenity: Sorry Mel, keep trying.

  Mel: R u sure?

  Serenity: He has a weird sexual fetish. Involving garden gnomes.

  Mel: Oh. Will give him a miss. Might finish looking tomorrow. Getting tired now.

  Serenity: No! You’re so close. Just take another look.

  Melanie’s enthusiasm had waned and she yawned as she scanned the remaining profiles Just when she was about to give up she came across a guy called James Devine who seemed to match the criteria.

  He looked like a bit of a slacker, with three-day growth, and a crumpled t-shirt. She had almost scrolled right past him. He was nothing like Greg who was always immaculately groomed. She did not hold out much hope when she gave his name to Serenity, and her immediate response was surprising.

  Serenity: Getting a v positive vibe from this name Mel. He could b the 1.

  Mel: Are u sure? He’s not what I’d normally go 4. I like men who dress well and shave. Doesn’t even say what his job is.

  Serenity: Don’t judge a book by its cover. This man is v wise and has a lot to offer. Becoming less shallow another important life lesson 4 u.

>   Mel: So he’s definitely the one they wanted me 2 find?

  Serenity: Just waiting on confirmation from guides.

  While Melanie waited for Serenity’s message to pop up she took a closer look at him. He was kind of cute, and the guides were right, she was a bit shallow when it came to the kind of men she went for. Over the years plenty of nice guys had asked her out, but she had turned nearly all of them down because she was convinced the perfect man was about to come along.