Tristan

Ughh...

I hate mornings...

I try my best to convince myself to get up and get my day started.

Eyes still closed, I begin forcing a groggy me to aimlessly start searching through my sheets to find wherever I may have tossed my phone last night after being overwhelmed by all of my thoughts.

I can tell it's still pretty early. The absence of the annoyance of my alarm alerting me to rise and face hell again is my first hint that I'm waking up at a time not suited to my usual taste.

The light from outside is irritatingly making its way into my bedroom through the crack of the curtains, and it's forcing me to open my eyes and face the day.

When I finally find my phone, I check the time and realize it's 7 am.

I can sleep in a bit longer since I have nothing penciled in for the morning on my consistently empty agenda, but the notification of a message left unread from Logan gives me the sudden rush of energy my body needs to get up and get things done.

I manage to sit up and prop myself on the side of the bed as I eagerly click open on the notification.

Logan❤️: Hey I know it's short notice but let me know if you can come in later, we're getting a delivery today of some new items, so it would be cool to give my mom a break and get you accustomed to the shop, if not let's work something out for later on in the week. Talk to you soon.

I know the message is about work, but I can't help but smile as I eagerly type a reply.

Looks like my empty agenda has suddenly filled up.

Me: Sure! I honestly can't wait to get started. What time are you thinking?

Logan❤️: Anytime works really... maybe 12ish?

Me: Sounds great! See you then. 😁

Logan❤️: ok.

Ok?

Just ok?

No emoji, no I can't wait to see you, ... nothing?

Just ok?

Maybe I'm reading too far into this...

Yeah, I'm acting like a crazy person. If anything, he's probably just busy.

I toss my phone on my bed and make my way to my mirror to do a quick face-check before I search for my outfit for the day.

Gosh, I look exhausted. I might need coffee, I need something.

After judging my clearly fatigued appearance in the mirror, I begin figuring out what to wear for my first day on the job. This time should be simpler. I have taken into account how Logan and his mother were dressed for the interview, so it's safe to say that my usual attire will work well.

I choose to keep it casual with a powder blue polo, some straight-lined khakis, and white sneakers.

As I lay everything on my bed, something in the corner of my room catches my eye. I notice it's one of my crystals that used to sit on my altar before my mother came in and crashed it to smithereens in her drunken rage.

This one must've escaped my eye, but as I move closer, it becomes more and more beautiful. The sunlight is hitting it in a way that makes it glisten and look even more magical than when I first obtained it.

Aquamarine...

The name of the crystal comes to me immediately, and it makes me wonder why I never worked much with this crystal before. Why have I only treated it as a decoration?

Aquamarine...

...used for spiritual and emotional healing, effective for meditation.

I know this isn't a coincidence. I know the universe is speaking to me, telling me to connect with spirit to find a solution to my mundane problems, but it triggers something else in me, it triggers feelings of guilt.

All of a sudden, it seems like things are going my way. Sure there are obstacles, but what's life without problems?

Instead of being grateful and working with the universe that's guided me, I've forgotten.

I've forgotten to take time out to be present, I've forgotten to meditate, I've forgotten to say thank you, and that's not me, that's not who I am.

I pick up the crystal, dust it off and give it a gentle kiss before closing my eyes and channeling my sacred space.

I whisper, "Thank you, spirit, thank you guides, thank You, Ezra."

I begin to fall into a feeling of peace, standing in my room physically, but going on an inner journey and traveling outside of myself and my body spiritually.

***Knock Knock***

"Trist, it's me. I know you're up. I hear you slamming those drawers and stomping around. Are you decent? May I come in?"

I feel my heart sink and quickly slide the Aquamarine crystal into the pocket of my pajamas before responding to my mother to enter.

"Yes, come in Mom."

I notice she's unusually cheerful, probably because it's too early for her to be completely obliterated from a drinking binge.

Who am I kidding? She'll pour tequila in her coffee if she has the itch... something else is going on here.

She makes her way into my room with two cups of coffee, her hair in those old school curlers housewives used to have on back in the day, and wearing a robe covered in red roses. She hands me a cup before sitting and making herself comfortable on the edge of my bed.

I watch curiously, and she takes a sip of coffee and begins her spiel. "Well, aren't you going to say good morning? Or thank you for the coffee?"

Not knowing her true intentions is causing me to be a bit on edge, so I take a sip of coffee to keep my body language neutral as I force out a response.

"Good Morning Mom, and thank you for the coffee, I appreciate it."

She takes another sip and offers up a strange smile.

"You're very welcome, Dear. Now I have some super exciting news to share, but before I do, how was the interview? I'm assuming you got the job, as I see your ensemble laid out here particularly early." She gestures to my outfit placed out carefully on the bed next to her.

I can't help but show the excitement on my face from landing the job, that, and my internal eagerness to work alongside Logan. "It went great Mom, I got the job, and yes, my first shift is actually this afternoon."

She puts her mug on the floor and begins to clap before springing off my bed and awkwardly forcing me into a hug. I try hard not to spill my coffee while secretly wishing I could fast forward through this uncomfortable moment.

"See Tristan, see what happens when you have a little faith and follow the right path?"

"Uh yeah, Mom, of course."

"So, where is this job of yours? Maybe I can give you a ride and thank them for giving you an opportunity."

Shit... I clearly didn't think this through.

I spit out the first thing that comes to mind. "I work with Seki."

"Oh, at that clothing store, how wonderful! Funny, neither of you mentioned you might be working together, but it makes sense why she'd want you to look your best. Remember, you're not only representing yourself now, whatever you do reflects on her, since she got you this opportunity."

I feel a sense of relief sweep over me. "Yes, I know, Mom, but enough about me. You said you had news or something?"

"Oh, sweet heavens! I almost forgot, yes, it's about that hocus pocus shop..."

My heart has been through enough today. Hopefully, this is the last drop on the Rollercoaster.

"Me and Barbs drove by and it is just absolutely awful, books on the occult in the window, boards with strange symbolism, and crystals on strings, no, no, we just can't have that it's making our town look like we're some witch haven, the towns name is Angel's Grove for goodness' sake!"

I want to stand up for Logan and Fay, but I see my mother turning pink with passion from the speech she's giving, so I'm smart enough to stay quiet.

"We literally stopped by the church to sprinkle ourselves with holy water just for bearing witness to the place, but that's neither here nor there. We have decided to plan a protest and have the place removed, and you, my son, will help. We need as many people as we can get and others in the church just don't seem that concerned."

I wonder why...

I say whatever will get her out of my room in peace. I just need peace. "Whatever you need, Mom."

I'm annoyingly shocked when she grabs my face with both of her hands. "I am so proud of the man you are becoming. I just knew you'd get there."

I never felt so relieved as I did when she finally released my face, grabbed her cup from my floor, and started humming some obviously made-up song about having faith on her way out of my room.

My mind is spinning. You would think I'd be used to it by now, but no, it never becomes normal.

A protest?

Could she even pull that off?

Should I warn Tristan?

Better yet, should I tell Fay?

What will that all mean for me?

I'm not my mother.

I have my own beliefs.

If there's any time to have a consultation with the universe, it's now, before I head into my new job, the very place my own mother is targeting.

I know it's unconventional, but I've had this little idea in the back of my mind for a while now, I've seen ads every time I watch videos online or shop for something spiritual, and there's this one site that always sticks out to me, it just can't be coincidence.

I take a seat at my desk, carefully set aside my now lukewarm coffee, prop open my laptop, and navigate my browser to SGC's, an online site for spiritual guidance counseling, basically a fancy name for online psychics.

I can't lie I am a bit skeptical but with the way things are going now I don't really have time to have an internal debate, it's clear the universe wants my attention and I'm not well-versed in the metaphysical, so I need help to create a connection.

I quickly create an account and add coins to my wallet, which are required to chat. I put the least amount possible because once again... skeptical.

As I'm browsing through the profiles of different readers and their specialties, a chat box appears on my screen from one of the counselors/psychics.

*New Message*

🔮MelanieKnowsThings🔮: You are here to see me.

Wtf.

I know it seems like a setup, but I can't help but click the button to open the chat box anyway, and before I can even think of what to ask, I see the timer start counting down and the dots dancing along the screen indicating an incoming message.

🔮MelanieKnowsThings🔮 : You are not crazy. You are gifted.

🔮MelanieKnowsThings 🔮: Those that are gifted must live challenging lives to learn to appreciate the world around them. You are at this stage, but you must stay strong if you want to step into the life you dream of.

🔮MelanieKnowsThings🔮: Things are about to get way more complicated, and you must make choices, because truly, what is the human being experience without the power to choose?

The bubble keeps dancing; the time keeps ticking but my wallet balance stays the same. Why are the coins not being deducted and aren't I supposed to be the one asking the questions?

I'm so confused.

Actually, I'm scared.

🔮MelanieKnowsThings🔮: It's normal to fear things unknown because we know not how they will affect us or our purpose, but it is important to have faith and be confident in your own power. You have a light.

I begin to type because I have to ask her. If anyone will know, she will. She seems seasoned and full of knowledge. I begin to hammer away at my keyboard.

🔮MelanieKnowsThings🔮: The one on your mind, the one you want to ask questions about, the answer lies within you. Life has no shortcuts for the gifted, or our gifts would hold no true power.

In the seconds I took to pause my own typing and read her advice, a little message pops up on the bottom of the screen alerting me that she has left the chat.

I sink into my desk chair, feeling just as hopeless as before rereading my own message I never got to send.

Me: Is Logan the one for me? If so, how can I tell? I don't know how to approach him, I just need to know if I'm doing the right thing... can you please tell me... is he the one?

It has to be him.

He has to be the one...

Something inside me just knows it.