The Deck


 

Francine used to be like other struggling single moms. She juggled two jobs, barely affording rent and nutritious meals for her son, Jacob. Then, during a garage sale, a dusty tarot deck sparked an uncanny gift. Her readings were eerily accurate, predicting stock market trends and lottery numbers with chilling precision. Clients flocked to her tiny apartment, transforming it into a haven of gilded hope.

Money poured in, erasing their struggles. Jacob had the best education, the finest clothes, and every whim catered to. Yet, a darkness coiled around Francine. Each accurate prediction chipped away at her humanity. Fear became her constant companion, whispering of the consequences of tampering with fate.

The unease intensified when her readings started hinting at a future tragedy linked to Jacob. The cards, once her tools of wealth, became instruments of terror. Francine tried to defy their warnings, showering Jacob with love and protection, but an invisible net seemed to tighten around him.

One rainy afternoon, she saw the vision unfold: Jacob, struck by a car, lifeless on the pavement. The image etched itself into her mind, a constant, suffocating presence. Francine became frantic, canceling appointments, and locking Jacob inside their penthouse fortress.

Jacob, used to a life of abundance, felt suffocated. He argued, demanding freedom, unaware of the danger lurking outside. One day, in a fit of teenage rebellion, he snuck out. Panic clawed at Francine. She raced after him, the vision replaying in her head.

Reaching a busy intersection, she saw it - the speeding car, the screech of brakes, Jacob stepping onto the road. In a split second, a decision ripped through her. She could push him back, fulfilling the prophecy to save herself, or let fate unfold, protecting him at the cost of her own life.

Tears streamed down her face as she made her choice. She lunged, pushing Jacob out of harm's way. The impact sent a searing pain through her. As she lay crumpled on the asphalt, the rain washing away her tears, she saw Jacob, unharmed, staring at her in horror.

The world faded around her, the price paid in full. Her fortune, built on borrowed time, vanished with her life. But in Jacob's tear-filled eyes, she saw a flicker of understanding, a promise to live a life worthy of her sacrifice. At that moment, Francine felt a strange peace. She had defied fate, not for wealth, but for love, and in doing so, she had saved the one thing that truly mattered. Her son.


You can read the full story here:

https://www.inkitt.com/stories/fantasy/1188001


Location: Philippines

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