A Mystical Encounter

There’s just something about the first light of morning that brings with it a sense of reset. Standing by the barricade, gazing far off into the emptiness of the ocean, having this conversation, is something she never could have anticipated. When thoughts lined up for attention in her mind, love and romance were always first in line. They were rather forceful as well, pushing thoughts like ‘career’ and ‘money’ and even ‘life purpose’ aside like a gluttonous child waiting in line at an ice-cream stand. It was when she fell in love that she felt most alive. The goose bumps, the deep fluttering that awakened her stomach, the excitement, the kissing… It consumed her. If wise men say that only fools rush in, then she was the biggest fool of all.

She stood facing the water. It was just reaching midday. The sun was happily placed in the sky. If she didn’t know better, she would think she could even see a wise, yet innocent smirk sitting cheekily on the sun’s face. She looked at it like she was looking at a dear, old friend. “You shine always, don’t you?” She thought silently. She looked at the face of her cell phone. She was leaning over the barricade with both her arms stretched out, moving the phone from one hand to another. The wind was kind and quiet. Three birds flew overhead and caught her attention. They flew in perfect unison, moving together in an unspoken rhythm. They swooped in a circular motion and flew off as quickly as they flew in. She looked back at the sun. People around her passed by easily. She wasn’t focused on the general population. She never was. She sighed as she unlocked her phone with her fingerprint. The ocean was quiet. The calmness made her smile in a serene silence. She laughed at how wonderfully perfect the day was. “Ironic,” she thought. She moved her finger over her contacts. She looked up one last time. She could see the sun rays bouncing off the ocean water. The bubbles danced. They were just having a such a good time. She pressed ‘call’ and closed her eyes. She breathed deeply as the ringing sounds entered her personal space.

“Perfect timing.” The voice answered.

“Always.” Charlotte responded.

“I’ve been thinking about perfect timing all morning. Milo and I were at the hot springs this morning, collecting wild mushrooms and…”

She listened intently like she always did.

“…on our walk back, I had a sudden urge to head to the local market. Milo made his way back home and I detoured.”

She turned her back to lean on the barricade, looking out into the city centre. The buzz and all the colours stirred some excitement within her but she kept focused on his voice.

“At the market, I walked passed a small yet dainty store. The table was decorated with elegant crystals. I was immediately drawn to an amber crystal that stood out amongst the rest. The saleslady came forth and we got to talking and she explained that she is a tea leaf reader.”

She smiled. All his stories were this exciting.

“Mhmmm, and?” She waited in anticipation.

“We shared a peppermint tea together. She took my cup and read the leaves. She told me that today was a day I would not be expecting. Which is funny because I never expect any day.”

That was true. He lived in the Present Moment and in the Present Moment only.

“I shared with her a tapping technique for her eye sore and she gave me the amber crystal as a thank you, which, looking at it in my hand now, I’m excited to make into a necklace. It would look good around your neck.”

She smiled sincerely. “Thierry…”

“Yes?”

“Slade asked me to marry him early this morning.”

The next moment’s silence reverberated throughout the cosmos. Just for a moment, nothing in existence moved. Every moment in time hovered in an uncanny silence. A golden-brown leaf separated itself from the native Ash Tree a few feet away. It shone, glistening in the sunlight, as it floated gently towards her. It landed on the floor by her shoe. She looked at it silently.

“Charlie,” the voice said, “I need to tell you something.”

***

A wave of numbness had washed over her. After the conversation, she walked senselessly to the quaint coffee shop on the beach. The waiter was a blurry figure as she sat heavily on the bench. She ordered a lemon ice tea without looking the waiter in the eyes. She positioned her back against the wall and stared at the beach in front of her. A group of sassy teenagers with million-dollar smiles and short shorts livened up the area. Families gathered on their sun-kissed towels and children made friends with the ocean elements. The water was waving, reflecting the excitement taking place in its sight. She sipped her ice tea. The cool, lemon flavor soothed her. Out of nowhere, a goddess-like woman began walking squarely toward her from the beach. She had golden hair that danced with the wind. Her eyes were vivid, even from a distance. She wore a white beach dress that hugged her body perfectly and carried herself with a humble confidence that she had never seen before. Charlotte sat up, more alert than she had been since the conversation. The goddess was standing in front of the table. She smiled.

“You look like you could use a friend. May I?” She gestured to the bench as if to sit.

Charlie raised an eyebrow.

“Sure.” She said politely.

The princess looked even more fictional up close. Charlotte laughed inwardly as she realized she had never seen a woman more beautiful than this one. She must have been a few years older than her but the wisdom she carried in her crystal blue eyes was timeless. Charlie smiled.

“I’m Ana.” She said sweetly. “I saw you walking from the barricade after what looked to be a torturous phone call and something within me has moved me to come meet you.”

Charlie looked at her. A purple, almost-holographic dragonfly hung around her head for a few seconds and then floated away.

“I’m Charlotte. Charlie for short.” She put out her hand. The lady shook it gently. Her hand felt warm and powerful.

***

After hour 3, the sound of their laughter was the background noise for the coffee shop. Their connection was star-written and they knew it. The table spread consisted of a half-eaten red velvet cake, a chocolate donut with colored sprinkles, some left over curly fries on a plate splashed with ketchup, some used serviettes with pink lipstick, two empty water bottles, one cup of a Mocha Latte and one Chai Tea. Tables of people had come and gone. The waiter, familiarly friendly with them now, had come to collect the empty water bottles.

“Anything else ladies?” He said with a flirty smile.

Charlotte looked up at him, directly in eyes. They drew her in like a portal. One was brown, the color of a desert landscape and one was green like a forest morning. She was genuinely shocked that she hadn’t noticed them before. She felt embarrassed to comment on them only now, after he had served her and her friend for nearly 3 hours.

She smiled and said, “We’re good for now thank you.”

He smiled back and walked away. Charlotte sipped her Chai Tea. Ana looked at her. Charlie noticed she had a glisten in her eye.

“Okay miss Charlotte. I’ve figured it out. Your story has all the elements. Thierry, the best friend, the long-lost lover, the soul mate. Then there’s Slade, the fantasy, the Dream Boy, the one that nearly got away. It’s perfect."

“Perfect?” Charlotte belly-laughed. “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. My childhood best friend, former lover and soulmate re-confessed his undying love for me around, I don’t know, 3 hours ago. And then proceeded to tell me he will fly over to the…” she looked around, “…remote side of the world to remind me of, according to him, what I already know! Never mind that my lover boy is sitting in our apartment as we speak, confused as an adult trying to understand Tik Tok. I didn’t give him an answer Ana.”

Ana laughed. “It’s perfect! Do you want to know why? Because you don’t need to figure it out now. I’ve had a wonderful afternoon. Haven’t you? We are young. And alive. We are free, energetic beings with so much life to live.” At that moment, a gush of wind swirled around her. She lifted her arms up, closed her eyes, looked up towards the sky and breathed in peacefully. It made Charlie want to breathe deeply too. She did.

“I have had a beautiful day with you Ana. I’m glad you walked up to me. This date was blind, unexpected and yet mysteriously perfect. Thank you.”

Ana looked back at her and then turned to face the ocean. The sun was setting. The use of colors spread across the horizon made Charlie feel as if she was on a movie set. The dark blue sky was peeping in overhead and the first starlight began making its twinkling entrance. The acoustic Spanish guitar music played louder on the sound system. The coffee shop was transforming into a beach bar by the moments. The waiter returned. He collected all the leftover food and drinks on a large tray. The table became empty and ready. He lit the candle in the middle and returned from placing away the tray.

Ana said to him, “Miguelito, what time does your shift end?”

“30 minutes.” He said with an even flirtier smile.

“Perfetto!” She grinned. “Will you join my friend Charlie and I for a date? She’s making life changing decisions,” she looked at Charlie and then back at Miguel. “But just for tonight… we party!” Miguel shimmied to the music in excited agreement.

Charlotte looked uncertain. “I may need to get home to Sla…”

“Nonsense.” Ana stood up and grabbed her hand. “Tonight, we dance!” She headed towards the already crowded dance floor area that had opened up when the music grew louder. She held Charlie’s arm above the people’s heads. She spoke loudly to Miguel as they walked passed him.

“Cariño, I will have a Sauvignon Blanc. What would you like Charlie?”

A flashing image came lightening fast into her mind. Her and Thierry sat together on a fluffy, royal purple, picnic blanket on the luscious grass. The air was light and their conversation was tranquil. The memory was as clear as if he was sitting right in front of her. Their wine glasses ‘clinked’. She saw a bunch of purple and green grapes on the corner of the blanket.

A deep smiled brushed over her lips.

“I’ll have a glass of Merlot.”