He'd crossed her palm with silver
The ritual of contract soon played
She'd chatted to him genially made him chortle
At the reading of character and future she'd made
She had kissed his cheek
Laughed some more
Squeezed his hand
As he walked to the door
And out into the day
She'd lowered the light
Not moved that day
Sat meditating all that night
In the early morning
Collapsed to her bed
Needed so to escape
That throb in her head
She read the local paper two days later
The details of that body found
Floating there in the harbour
Maybe murdered certainly drowned
She'd seen death stand at his shoulder
Face her with triumphant leering grin
Daring her to tell him the future
Death knowing he would win
She had spun him words of joy
Deliberately lied
Not daring to tell him then
Death stood at his side
It was
She knew
Kinder at times
Not to read true
She resumed her readings two days later
Felt she could mourn him no more
Waited with apprehension
For the next client through the door
