Until Sunrise

“No water up there mom, do you want someone to run a bath for you?”

“Well, cold porcelain turn me on.” She watched her mother as she cat walked up the stairs.

****

At two o’clock, Flora met Julie and they both decided to go out for shopping. Flora was driving. She missed Westfield and the view of busy shops reminded her of her youth. She looked at the rearview mirror and saw a white van behind her.

“I’m I paranoid or this van is tailing us?” Flora said.

The van was sticking close.

“It could be an ordinary car.” Julie said.

The chilly feeling at the back of her neck was dread.

“I’ll stop here and pretend we are going to Miranda’s shop.”

“You do believe in tarot cards after all.” Julie said with a smile.

“What choice have I got?”

****

Miranda’s crystal shop looked small inside because every space was occupied. There was some kind of Caribbean music playing and the air reeked of incense.

Large crystal balls all shiny and jagged, stood on a table at the corner of the shop. She turned to look at the bookshelves alongside her and realized that the titles were all about meditation, faith healing and chakra.

Along the back wall was a long glass filled with shiny stones. Boxes of incense were stacked behind the glass case. There was a photograph of a woman on the wall, the woman was said to be the meditation guru who had taught many people. A curtail of multi colored beads hung in the doorway.