I Am With You, Always

"Your life is about to change." Said the tarot reader to Jana. "Really? Tell me more! I bet there’s something about my job." Jana stammered. She sighed and stared at the candlelit table in the witch’s dimly lit shop. "My boss is a b***h," she muttered under her breath, head down. “She set me up in the worst way.” The tarot reader tapped a card on the table. The Queen of Wands - reversed. "Well, here she is, causing conflict." Jana scoffed. "Seven years of giving my heart, soul, and life - working extra hours - and the company I worked so hard for decided to let me go without any consideration. After everything I did for them! My boss’s doing, indeed.” Her face remained expressionless, but her voice carried the weight of exhaustion and desperation. She followed a friend’s advice and went to see Mary, the tarot card reader, hoping for some clarity about her uncertain future. Mary was a very accurate clairvoyant; additionally, she was a medium and could speak with the dead. The witch drew another card - The Tower. "A sudden upheaval, destruction of foundations - not surprising. What happened with your boss? I can see she is a toxic woman that behaves like a child." Jana clenched her jaw. The memories still stung, but she didn't want to sound overly biased, like a wounded wolf licking its wounds. "My subordinate committed fraud - forged invoices, stole money for travel and plastic surgery. She had potential; I never doubted her, nor did anyone else. But my boss blamed me entirely. I feel like that woman set me up as the scapegoat." Another card. Justice. The witch studied it and then met Jana’s gaze. "Truth always finds its way to the surface. But, did you ever hold the sword?" Jana shifted in her chair and unfolded her hands. "The sword? I don’t know. I tried to defend myself, but honestly, I feel guilty, because that’s how my boss made me feel. I know I could have done things differently, but I’m sure she pinned it on me to cover herself." The witch tapped the Justice card. "You were the bridge, but not the architect of this downfall. Others may point fingers, but the scales always balance in time. Also, I clearly sense envy surrounding you—especially from your boss. Be glad you're no longer working for her. I see no real progress in your career with her by your side." Jana exhaled. "I guess that’s good to know? But I never would have let something like that happen. She ruined my reputation, and now I’m the one without a job. I never touched company funds for personal use—if anything, I caught fraud more than once and reported it. Yet no one ever thanked me for it." The witch nodded knowingly and flipped another card - The Hanged Man. "Your world has turned upside down, hasn’t it? But sometimes, a shift in perspective is necessary. Have you ever thought that maybe life is trying to send you a message?" Jana swallowed hard. She already knew what that message was. It was time to stop prioritizing work above everything else—her health, her personal interests, her peace of mind. She has worked in corporate her entire life and was building a reputation and a solid career. This was devastating for her in all dimensions. She had been a problem solver, the one who always had answers, the person everyone relied on. But was that a strength, or had she unknowingly set herself up—portraying herself as all-powerful, capable of handling any workload, no matter how inhumane? "I feel lost and hopeless without a job. But anyway, tell me what’s going to happen. What about love and relationships?" The witch placed another card - The Fool. "Ah, but here is where the journey truly begins. Like I said, your life is about to change." "Negatively, right? Without a job, I’ll have to start over again, now with a stain on my resumé. And to make matters worse, I don’t even have a husband." Jana reflected on her life. It wasn’t just about losing her job—it was the crushing loneliness that weighed on her. All her friends were getting married, having babies, building families. And here she was, nearly 37, still single. Money wasn’t the issue; her severance package was generous, enough to keep her afloat for at least four months. But anxiety was a demon perched on her shoulder, whispering doubts she couldn’t silence. The witch smirked and pointed at The Fool. "This isn’t a stain—it’s a blank slate. A chance to reinvent. People change jobs, explore unknown paths. Doesn’t that sound freeing?" Jana sighed. "I don’t know... it just doesn’t look good." The witch shuffled the deck again. "You worry about what has not yet come to pass. But what if doors are opening for you that you have never dared to consider?" Jana felt frustration creeping in. Was she wasting her time here? All she could picture was her resumé inside a coffin. "The thing is, I should be solving this. I should be in control of my life. I shouldn’t even be here, talking to you about how to fix the problems in my head." The witch smiled knowingly and set down another card. The Wheel of Fortune. "Ah, but my dear, have you always carried such weight on your shoulders? The tides are shifting, and for the first time, you have the freedom to do what you truly desire. Maybe that’s what scares you most." Jana stared at the card, at the ever-turning wheel, and wondered if she was finally ready to step off and walk a new path. Mary swept the cards off the table, her movements deliberate, almost ritualistic. With a quiet click, she retrieved a clear glass chalice, its surface glinting in the dim light. She poured water into it, the sound of liquid filling the chalice echoing through the room like a soft warning. From the table drawer, she took out a small vial of ink, its contents dark and mysterious. The cap twisted open with a faint hiss as she spoke in a low, almost reverent tone. "Jana, I need you to focus. Place your hands over the chalice, let your spirit surrender to the water. I’m going to read your love life." Jana’s breath caught in her throat, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind, but she couldn't pull away. She laid her hands on the rim of the chalice, feeling the cold glass beneath her fingertips. Closing her eyes, she whispered to herself, her heart racing. "Tell me where you are, soulmate… Will I find you in this life?" The room seemed to hold its breath. Mary dropped three drops into the chalice, and as the ink began to form shapes, she softly murmured, as if speaking to someone unseen. "My spirits tell me that there is a man who is always with you. I only see a connection with someone who is always present. That person is here with you now. He is protecting you." Jana opened her eyes. She didn’t understand anything Mary was saying. "What do you mean? Has he died?" "Jana, you must speak to him. I see a very strong bond between you and this person. A bond that goes beyond life and death." Mary seemed to be in a trance, and Jana couldn’t have been more frightened. The session ended. Jana was very confused at the last message from the spirits. She thanked the witch, and slung her purse over her shoulder. “Mary, thank you for your time. This was very revealing.” As she turned to leave, she accidentally knocked over a basket of stones, and one fell at her feet—a gleaming purple crystal. "An amethyst. Pick it up and take it with you." The tarot reader said from the doorway. Jana hesitated. "Really? I can take it?" "It has chosen you," the tarot reader said, taking her hand. Her dark eyes gleamed intensely. "They tell me your life is about to change. Transmutation awaits you." "They? Your spirits?" Jana asked hesitantly. "They, my spirits, have known you for a long time, Jana. Believe me when I say: you have no idea about the portal that is about to open before your eyes. Don’t be afraid." Jana shivered. She tucked the stone into her purse and left, feeling both intrigued and unsettled.