A Love Restored

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The bustling scene was bathed in a warm, golden glow from the sun, which was low in the sky I felt as though time had briefly stopped, and I was once more a curious child anxious to discover every hidden corner of an enchanted location.

I had never been to a camival before.

The aroma of delicious food floating through the air caught my attention initially. A delectable olfactory symphony was produced by the combination of the savory scent of corn dogs with the sweet scent of cotton candy. A row of food stands adjacent enticed me with funnel cakes and caramel apples as I watched cotton candy be spun into whimsy pink and blue clouds.

A variety of happy sounds serenaded my ears. Children riding the carousel filled the air with laughter and shrieks of excitement, their faces painted with pure ecstasy. A harmonious synthesis of human laughter and mechanical rhythm was produced by the mechanical melodies of the roller coaster and Ferris wheel.

The carnival was a kaleidoscope of hues. I was drawn to games of chance by bright, neon- hued signs that offered the chance to win a huge plush animal. The booths themselves were covered in streamers and glistening fairy lights, producing a stunning display that looked like something out of a dream.

The sideshow tents, adorned with hand-painted banners featuring bearded ladies and fire- breathing performers, invited me to explore their mysteries. The fortune teller’s booth exuded an air of mystique, and I couldn’t resist having my palm read, hoping to uncover a glimpse of my future,

“Felix,” I pointed excitedly to the palm reading booth. “Can we go there?”

He gave me an incredulous look. “That’s s**d,

I frowned, “Please! It will be so fun.

He sighed, “Why don’t you go with Tilly?”

Felix and Tilly and Remy and I were on a group hang/double date situation to a carnival in the city. Since we lived closer to the city than in the suburbs, they were rare to come by. But I had been seeing posters and advertisements for this one for months and had been so

Chapter 33.

excited to visit it. Felix hadn’t been very keen but he had accepted after a few minutes of bribing him with funnel cakes and fried O**s.

I looked to find Tilly, but she and Remy were already hand in hand, walking toward the

haunted house.

“We can go if you’ll come to the haunted house with me next.”

I nodded readily.

I grabbed Felix’s hand and he reluctantly followed me to the booth. It was manned by a woman with long, curly hair with the ends died red. She looked relatively young and very beautiful. Like the witchy kind of beauty.

We waited our turn and it didn’t take long. The line was quite short here.

When it was Felix and I’s turn, the woman smiled at us, gesturing for us to sit down at the bench in front of her. We did so. Felix looked around begrudgingly, hopin, no one

would spot him with a fortune teller. I laughed inwardly. It would be quite funny, and it would be so bad for his uncaring bad boy image.

“What a cute couple!” The woman exclaimed. “Ah, I remember the good old days of high

school.”

Neither of us corrected her. I liked us being called a couple. And a cute couple at that.

“Now tell me,” Her voice was low and breathy, “What would you like to know?”

I hadn’t thought this far ahead. I looked to Felix, but he just shrugged.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. Sighing, I asked, “How does the future look like for the two of

us?”

Felix stopped fidgeting, but he was still looking the other way. I smiled. I guess he did want

to know.

The woman gestured for my palm, and I handed it to her. She studied it for a full three minutes while I looked at Felix. He was also staring at my palm, as if he understood what these lines meant. Then he looked at me and grinned.

“I see a shadow,” The woman finally said. Felix snorted. I sent him an admonishing glare.

“What shadow?”

She looked between the two of us, “A shadow over true happiness.” I could hear Felix trying to hold back laughter. He was so rude!

“You have the potential to be truly happy, but there are forces. Strong forces.” Her gaze on me was intense. “These forces can change your life completely.”

Felix rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on,” He grabbed my hand, “We’re leaving.” He threw some bills on the table and dragged me away from the booth.

I scowled at him. “What was that?”

“That’s just b**t, Flora. She was scaring you into spending more money on her useless

tantra-mantra.”

“You didn’t even let me ask about the forces!”

There are no forces, Flora!”

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “You’re mean and rude.”

He ruffled my hair. “Let me buy you a

him.

“A pretzel?”

I shook my head again.

“Corn dog?”

caramel apple.” I shook my head, turning away from

I turned back around, “Okay fine, but I want the Hot Cheetos one.”

“Deal.”