Tick. Tock.
‘I can’t put it off any longer Joseph. We’re running out of time.’ Desperate eyes darted to a giant gold clock made with the finest craftsmanship. Tick. Tock.
‘Caitlyn, please, don’t. It doesn’t need to come to that.’ Even though the man’s grip around her wrist was pulling her closer, he could feel her becoming more and more distant.
‘Yes. It does. I have to address the elephant in the room.’
With a violent swing of her arm, Caitlyn jerked free. Her gaze finally left Joseph’s begging eyes.Clack, clack, clack. The sound of her heels on the marble floor echoed as she approached the elephant in the room. For years she had waited for this moment, dreamt it, and it was only now as a reality did it feel most surreal. Joseph stood completely still, anchored by heavy thoughts and uncertainty. He looked at the clock.
Tick. Tock.
He held his breath.
‘My Prophet, Saldinya, First of Her Kind, I seek your council.’ Caitlyn’s voice was unwavering. In response, the elephant dipped its trunk into a basin of blessed water and joyfully blew a fine mist into the air.
That never gets old, Saldinya thought.
‘In exchange for your all seeing eye, I bring you an offering!’ . A punnet of vibrant red orbs emerged from her coat pocket.
The elephant’s eyes widened.
Raspberries! My favourite! How did she know? Despite knowing everything about the past, present, future, this cosmos and beyond, Saldinya still found herself surprised. I love raspberries!
‘It started as a seed of doubt, but over the years the seed has blossomed and I find myself lost in a forest of darkness.’ Caitlyn inhaled deeply and composed herself. ‘I have to know.’
For the briefest moment, the silence made it feel as if time had stopped. But a rude tick tockreminded Caitlyn that time still continued, and indeed, it was running out.
‘Has my husband been unfaithful?’
Without hesitating, Saldinya wrapped her trunk around her paintbrush, dipped it in a pool of purple paint and cleared her mind. The key to clean strokes is confidence. The brush is an extension of my trunk.The canvas gave Caitlyn her answer. She tore her wedding ring off her finger and threw it to the ground. Busted!
‘Will I ever find love again?’ The control in Caitlyn’s voice was gone, her vision blurred with tears. Tick. Tock.Saldinya dipped her brush back into the pool and pressed it to the canvas. A single chime rung out, and Caitlyn screamed. ‘Please! Just one minute more! Please! I have to know!’
Saldinya returned the brush to its holder. Sorry love, rules are rules. Two minutes per appointment. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Thanks for the raspberries though.
The next client walked in as the clock struck four.
