Magnificent Marabelle

Marabelle was a beautiful and strong woman who everyone thought of as successful; her ability to smile in difficult situations and provide reasonable solutions and compassion to those around her when issues arose made everyone believe she was the poster-child of prosperity.

But she had a secret that tore her apart inside. Marabelle cried almost every night, wondering what her purpose was. Often she would sit near the window looking up to the stars with tears in her eyes and ask with pure sincerity for the universe to guide her. Soon, strange things would happen.

It was now Saturday, Marabelle, as usual, was baking and packaging cookies to take to her neighbors. Living in a low-rise apartment building, she knew them all well. She was especially fond of her friend living in unit 200, Samantha. Samantha was perky and uplifting. Marabelle felt love and appreciation from Samantha and knew her anxiety would be relieved, even if only temporarily when visiting her.

Marabelle knocked on Samantha’s door with a beautifully wrapped cellophane package of baked goodies. Samantha answered and immediately said, “do you have 20 minutes? I have something I want to show you”. Marabelle being who she was, said of course and entered the unit, slightly unsure of what to expect.

Samantha excitedly exclaimed she ordered tarot cards with instructions they just arrived in the mail. She wanted to know if Marabelle was up for a reading. Marabelle knew what tarot cards were and wondered if her discussion with the universe the previous evening led her to unit 200 that day. It had to happen; Marabelle was loyal to the universe and felt she would be letting it down if she didn’t comply.

Following instructions, Marabelle shuffled the cards and whole-heartedly questioned in her thoughts, as she did the previous evening, what her purpose was. The reading summary suggested that Samantha had a bright future ahead of her and that she was in total control of her life’s outcome. There was also a suggestion about how she needed to pay attention to numbers in her life. Samantha asked if she had ever looked into numerology; Marabelle said no, but advised she was intrigued.

When Marabelle returned home, she looked at the clock and noticed it was 2 pm. Immediately she thought about numbers and how she spent the last 20 minutes in unit 200. Was 2, 20, and 200 trying to tell her something? Marabelle was excited with wonder and happy to have something new to focus time on. Marabelle began paying more attention to the numbers in her life; she needed something to keep track of all the digits she came in contact with.

Next, Marabelle found herself at a consignment store looking for a stylish notebook. The store had several to chose from; Marabelle was excited about her new project and thought since the second letter of the alphabet was b; her book should be either black, blue, or brown. After deep consideration, she decided she would choose a color based on numbers. Blue and black had the second letter l, brown had an r. Since l was closer to the second letter of the alphabet than r, brown was gone as an option. Then she looked at the next letter in blue and black, u and a. She grabbed the small black notebook and purchased it; surprisingly, it was $2.22 after tax.

Returning home, she opened her newly purchased notebook and on the second page wrote “$2.22, 2, 20, 200”. She wasn’t sure what to do with these written numbers, except to wonder about them as she’d been wondering about her purpose. But it was fun, she thought.

That evening, she sat at her window again with tears in her eyes, wondering if she was losing her mind. Suddenly she saw a shooting star; it made her pause for a moment. Frozen in thought, she grabbed her small dark notebook, brought it to the window, and clasped it in her hands while staring into the universe; all she could do for that brief moment was feel gratitude for the new hobby in her life. The earth began to shake; she dropped the book and took cover under her desk. There had been a brief earthquake as soon as it was over, she went back to get the notebook. There it was lying on the floor with the last page facing up, reading: You are loved, my child, your purpose is more than you are aware. You are needed and appreciated. Please visit me if you are the recipient of this message; I have something for you. Love, Howard. Oddly enough, the address provided was all numbers divisible by two.

Marabelle felt shivers up her spine and sat down immediately, fearing she might pass out. A flood of questions entered her mind, but there was only one thing she could do, visit Howard at the address provided. But first, she felt it necessary to let Samantha know about what was happening. Samantha wanted to join Marabelle at the visit to ensure her safety. Marabelle agreed, so they went together.

Marabelle and Samantha arrived at a long-term care facility. They entered, approached the main desk, and explained they came to visit Howard. The clerk replied, Howard, room 002? Yes, it must be, declared Marabelle. Unfortunately, Howard passed away last week, but he left something in his room with instructions, she said. Why were you coming to visit Howard? she asked. Marabelle, with a tone of embarrassment, stated she was advised from a message in a small black notebook and proceeded to show the book to the clerk. The employee looked at Marabelle with emotion on her face stating Howard would be happy she was there today. The directions are for you, I believe. She continued by explaining for the past 20 years since Howard lost his daughter, he would always talk about someone coming to visit him with a little black notebook. The receptionist then passed Marabelle an envelope.

Marabelle took a seat and opened the package. Inside was a note attached to a second envelope reading: I look to the universe every night and reminisce about my life when I was young with children. I am 88 and feel my time coming; since no one visited me with that notebook yet, I write this in-case I miss you. I had a daughter who lost her life when she was twenty-two in a car accident. Before this misfortune, she told me she was writing a story and shared this little black notebook she purchased to get started. I was so proud of her. After her death, I felt lost and didn't know what to do, I saved money to help with her book, but it never happened. I put-away $20,000.00 and was sad seeing the money in my account, knowing it was for her. So in 2013, I invested it in Bitcoin. The shares were selling for $200 then, so I bought 100 of them and got a certificate (envelope attached). One hundred shares of Bitcoin go to whoever arrives with that little black notebook, with my message scribbled on the last page. My daughter was thrifty and discussed consignment stores having the best stuff. I placed my note in that book in 2018 and sent it to the nearest second-hand store. If the universe is listening, it will end-up in talented hands. Please see my lawyer; the shares will transfer from my estate to your name; bring the book too! With love, Howard.

At that moment, Marabelle realized her purpose and talents. It was kindness and caring that led her to Samantha that previous Saturday. The universe needed her to share her spirit, style, and sweetness with the world. Extra money would help with that too, she thought. Marabelle looked at Samantha, neither knowing anything about Bitcoin or stocks, and gleefully cried, I just got $20,000! Beaming with happiness, Samantha said, you have way more than that! Samantha was referring to her priceless personality. Both were in for a pleasant surprise in the coming days. Marabelle declared on the way home her plan to give most of the $200 coins to the food bank. Her good-hearted soul is what the universe loved so much; her selfless self is what ensured her well-being and purpose would always be taken care of.