One Short Story A Day

July 30, 2024

Prompt: Someone at work has offered to do a tarot card spread for you, and you politely decline. You find a single tarot card in your mailbox when you return home.

It was a typical Monday at the office, and as I was going about my tasks for the day, a colleague approached me with an offer that caught me off guard.

"Hey there, I noticed you've been a bit stressed lately. How about I do a tarot card spread for you? It might help give you some clarity and insight," my coworker, Sarah, said with a smile.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. I had never been one to put much stock in things like tarot cards or fortune-telling. But Sarah was always so kind and well-meaning, I didn't want to offend her by declining.

"Thank you, Sarah, that's very thoughtful of you. But I'll have to pass, I'm not really into that sort of thing," I replied as politely as I could.

Sarah nodded understandingly and went back to her desk, leaving me to continue my work. As the day went on, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of my stomach. I tried to push it to the back of my mind and focus on my tasks, but it lingered like a shadow, following me wherever I went.

Finally, the workday was over, and I made my way home, eager to leave the stress of the office behind. As I approached my front door, I noticed a small black envelope sticking out of my mailbox. Curious, I reached inside and pulled it out, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the familiar image on the front: a single tarot card.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I cautiously opened the envelope and pulled out the card. It was The Tower – a grim image of a tower being struck by lightning, flames engulfing it from within. I couldn't help but feel a chill of fear creep over me at the sight of it.

What did this mean? Was it just a coincidence, or was there something more sinister at play here? I tried to shake off the feeling of dread that was beginning to settle over me, telling myself it was all just a silly game. But deep down, I couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had taken hold of me.

That night, I tossed and turned in bed, my mind consumed with thoughts of The Tower card and what it could possibly mean for me.

Was it a warning of impending disaster, or simply a harmless prank by a well-meaning coworker?The next morning, I woke up feeling more exhausted than when I had gone to bed. I dragged myself through my morning routine, trying to push the ominous thoughts from my mind as I got ready for work. But as I made my way to the office, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me, a sense of impending doom hanging over my head like a dark cloud.

When I arrived at work, I made a beeline for Sarah's desk, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed answers, and she was the only one who could provide them. As I approached her, she looked up with a smile, but it quickly faded when she saw the expression on my face.

"What's wrong, are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her features.

I held up the tarot card, The Tower, and watched as her eyes widened in shock. She quickly composed herself and took a deep breath before speaking.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I only wanted to help you, to give you some guidance. I never meant for any harm to come of it."

I stared at her, trying to make sense of her words. Was this all just a misunderstanding, or was there truly something sinister afoot? As the day went on, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over me. I couldn't focus on my work, my mind consumed with thoughts of The Tower card and what it could possibly mean for me. Was it a warning of impending disaster, or simply a harmless prank by a well-meaning coworker? That night, as I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. The shadows in the room seemed to twist and dance, taking on sinister shapes that sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to tell myself it was all just my imagination, but deep down, I knew there was something more to it.

Was this all just a misunderstanding, or was there truly something sinister afoot? As the days went on, the feeling of unease only grew stronger. I couldn't escape the sense that something dark and malevolent was lurking just out of sight, waiting to strike. I started to see shadows moving in the corner of my eyes, whispers echoing through the empty halls of my apartment when I was alone.

I became paranoid, jumping at every creak and groan of the building, convinced that I was being haunted by The Tower card and whatever dark forces it represented. I tried to reach out to Sarah for help, but she had disappeared without a trace, leaving me to face whatever was coming alone.

One night, as I lay awake in my bed, consumed by fear and uncertainty, a sudden gust of wind blew through my window, sending a chilling breeze through the room. And in that moment, I knew – The Tower had come for me.

I felt a presence looming over me, a dark figure that seemed to materialize out of thin air. It reached out a hand towards me, its touch icy and cold, sending a shock of dread through my entire being. And then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone, leaving me shaken and trembling in its wake.

In the days that followed, I never saw The Tower again. But the memory of that night haunted me, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked just beneath the surface of our world. And as I looked back on that fateful tarot card spread, I couldn't help but wonder – what other secrets lay hidden in the cards, waiting to be revealed?.