She meditated as she did every morning.
Pretending not to hear the laughter of the children at play.
They ran up to gather in front of her.
To hear a story as they did every day.
She waited to hear the soft footfalls of a young girl.
Susanna, her name she believed.
The young girl would stay at the far edge of the circle
and patiently wait for the wise woman to speak.
"Tell us the story." Susanna would say. "The Legend of the Wild Card."
The girl would make the request with stars in her eyes.
She could tell that Susanna was already half in love.
She knew exactly why.
The Wise Woman would smile gently.
Slowly opening her eyes.
For a moment her heart would mirror that of young Susanna's.
The two kindred spirits.
A special connection.
Their shared song.
"You children hear it nearly every day," the Wise Woman would answer.
"But we all love Susanna and she's so fond of it," her little brother Joey would say.
"He's her boyfriend," one of her girlfriends proclaimed.
The other girls would giggle.
Young Susanna's face would grow red.
The Wise Woman would smile and roll her eyes at them.
A look of reassurance to young Susanna.
Then she would begin.
"The Wild Card was a man.
A man like any other.
A loving man, a kind man, a strong man.
Much like your fathers, uncles, older brothers.
"Like all young men, he left home one day to seek his destiny.
The young man ran into a problem along the way.
He met a woman of magic.
Which is good luck to many.
But not in this case.
The Woman of Magic loved him deeply.
She was beautiful and kind.
There was something in her eyes that could not be brightened.
A heaviness lived in her heart that could never be lightened.
He did his best to make himself love her.
She tried to be patient, the young man was kind.
Time passed and her love was not returned.
The Woman of Magic became angry.
She made the worst mistake anyone who has the power to wield magic can make."
Voices echoed around the Wise Woman.
"She used her magic to punish and control another."
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