I remember that day like it was yesterday. The autumn sun lit up the golden leaves outside as I sat in my cozy living room, watching the sunlight dance off my engagement ring. At 46, I was engaged for the first time—something I had almost given up on after years of heartache and self-doubt.
For so long, I believed love wasn’t in the cards for me. I’d looked to the stars, blamed destiny, and thought maybe I was meant to be alone. But then Larry came along—kind, gentle Larry—and everything changed.
That morning, I was on my way to meet Cynthia, my best friend of many years. She had seen me through every high and low, so I couldn’t wait to share my joy with her. We planned to meet at the local fair, a place full of childhood wonder that always lifted my spirits.
Cynthia greeted me with her usual big hug. I showed her the ring, and she was thrilled for me—or at least, she seemed to be. There was a bittersweetness in her smile I couldn’t ignore. Still, she insisted we celebrate.
As we wandered the fairgrounds, we stumbled upon a fortune teller’s tent. Cynthia urged me to go in, even though I hesitated. Life was finally good—I didn’t want to risk hearing something that might shake that peace.
But I went in.
The fortune teller took my hand and said something that chilled me to the core: “Take off the ring and leave him. You’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”
Confused and rattled, I left in silence. Cynthia seemed oddly satisfied and told me I should listen. That night, back home with Larry, the warning echoed in my head. But as he greeted me with a warm smile and dinner on the table, I knew—despite everything—I loved him. And I chose him.
The next day, Cynthia showed up—furious. She admitted she’d paid the fortune teller to say those things, hoping I’d leave Larry so we could return to how things were between us. My heart broke all over again, but not for Larry—for the friend I thought I knew.
“No,” I said as I shut the door on her. “I don’t want that anymore.”
I didn’t need a fortune teller to know my future. I had Larry, and that was all I needed.
