"Death is the solution to all problems. No man - no problem."

Joseph Stalin

"Thank you, if not for you I would never know that my love life would be so romantic!"

The fortune teller did her best to stop her urge to smile slyly. She watched the maiden exit the tent as she gathered her cards and pondered. She would need to wait for her last client before she packs up and go home. Massaging her stiff neck, she sighed as she thought about how hard it was to earn money these days. The grandchild, her daughter had left her might be starving right now, and as the child's grandmother, she can't help but feel a little guilty.

The old woman suddenly felt exhausted in a matter of seconds.

The high days of fortune telling were over; she can't help but recall when she was famous in her younger days. Those days where her wealthy days, where people rely on her for their fortune, the time where famous individuals placed the future of kingdoms on their shoulders. Musing for a long while, she had not noticed she was frozen in place and was staring into space.

The fortune teller heard shuffling at the entrance of the tent, and she raised her head to glance at the person who entered.

The old woman observed the client, she was wearing a long, free-flowing white dress that reached her ankles. The languid atmosphere she usually felt after someone entered the tent was gone, in its place was coldness, it resembled the temperature of the peak of a mountain. The fortune teller's eye showed mirth as she watched her woman client.

Evidently, she knew what this atmosphere means. This coldness indicated the woman had reached the peak, or maybe she thought she had. The old lady plastered a welcoming smile on her face, she's good at reading people, that was why she became a fortune teller.

Unknown to the public, fortune telling was not about tarot cards, crystal fortune telling nor hand reading. It was about knowing what the client's expected answer was. Telling other's luck was akin to explaining what they want to hear, if they know the problem was severe, then the fortune teller should tell them that they will be facing a great challenge. On the other hand, when they were expecting good fortune, and it was written all over their face, she should tell them that some good luck will befall them.

Reading faces shows it all.

A little shameless, the fortune teller perfectly knows it, but that was how she earns money. On the good side, at least she's not selling drugs and dragging unfortunate youths with her misery.

The client sat on the seat in front of the fortune teller. The old lady spoke, "Tarot cards, crystal or hand reading?"

Raising her head for the second time, the fortune teller watched as the woman replied, "Hand reading."

The woman's face was full indifference as if she could not be bothered by measly things. Her skin appeared dazzling under the dimly lit tent, the cold face of hers reminded the old woman of the fairies sculpted and showcased in theme parks. Now that she studied her client's face, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Sadly the old lady knows beauty is but a paltry desire.

The client offered her hand. The woman suddenly felt indescribable fear with her action. The fortune teller was hesitant to touch her hand, but she resolved her will as her wrinkly hands reached for hers. The old woman glanced at the woman's eyes and was amused to know that she cannot read anything.

The old lady smiled, the fear inside her disappeared. But deep inside her, a strange emotion was stirred. It had been hundreds of years since this sensation struck her.

"Client, all I know is that you hold your future. I especially wish you well."

The woman widened her eyes a little as she stared at the fortune teller, but before she replied, the old lady interrupted her. "You do not need to pay, Client. Treat this as your lucky day."

The fortune teller watched as her client nodded and the woman opposite her gracefully exited the tent.

Gathering all her things, the old lady prepared to leave as her eyes landed on the table. Raising one of her eyebrows, she saw a lone card above the printed tablecloth. The fortune teller slowly approached the table as the words written on the tarot card became clearer.

Judgment.

Feeling weirdly satisfied, the old woman decided to find another job and quit fortune telling. She does not know, but sometimes, Gods love to play with other's cards.