As they did every summer, the married couple, lawyer Douglas von Braun, son of a wealthy businessman, and Angie Hill, a psychologist and former model, planned to go on vacation.
Douglas had been brought up in a strict and planned way. He was very meticulous, perhaps to the point of conceiving his life without including recreation for individual freedom. A detail that his sweet wife always reminded him of when she says:
-Although we adopted Brigitte, being a baby, she has clarity of what she wants to be and, she has precise goals for her young age. Let her be. Maybe she has a mission in life that you do not understand at the moment. Teach her to fly, but give her the freedom to fly where her heart takes her.
-We couldn't have our own children and, I think, that's why you spoil her too much," Douglas grumbles with a frown.
Angie conveys understanding and gentleness in her plea:
-Remember, she's still obsessed with the noise of car brakes. Even though she was very young, it seems that she is still traumatized by the accident in which her parents died. I have already explained it to her several times. I think you have to be patient, that's why I supported her when she told me she wanted to be a model like me.-
-Of course, we must admit that Brigitte has an exotic beauty, her black hair, inherited from her Indian mother, contrasts with the intense blue look in her eyes, inherited from her father,- Douglas answered.
-Yes, the depth of her gaze is irresistible. She transmits both sweetness and a flash of light... Ah! I remind you that her friends are coming this weekend. They'll be in the library researching the homework assignments they sent you,- says Angie.
-Who's coming?- asks Douglas.
-Martin Quesada. By the way, he wants to be a lawyer, like you, to defend his father, who lost his house to a thief. Anthony Henn and Marlene Canfield, Brigitte's classmate.-
-Anthony, the helper of lost causes and the fearful Marlene. This one, when she gets to the library and feels the silence of the wind blowing and, the creaking of the library wood, she's going to run away. Keep your eyes peeled. I will have to solve an urgent case in my office. That rare combination of friends can lead to something unexpected. See you for dinner. -
With that answer, Douglas says goodbye and kisses his wife. After a while, they hear a knock on the door. Angie opens the door to see that they are Brigitte's friends, smiles, makes them come in and takes them to the library.
Angie says to the children, -Let me know when you want to have a snack.-
They arrive at the library and a sudden change of plans....All of them are going to discuss what they want to be when they grow up, then do their homework.
Brigite sets the tone:
-Martin, my dad is a lawyer always looks for books and reads. I'll show them to you.-
He goes up to the library, takes out a book and at the same time a book falls down that says: Observe your destiny.
Brigite picks it up and says:
-I've never seen this one before.-
-It looks interesting, let's read it,- answers the curious Martin, his heart beating fast.
Without saying a word, the determined Anthony picks up the book and begins to read:
-Follow these steps and know your destiny: take the hidden game, on the left hand side, on shelf 5.-
Martin offers to help and follows Anthony's instructions.
-This is a train, you have to put it together. There are several stations and in the center is a mirror. That's it. Go on... - he answers
-The game is for 4 people. All of them have to participate, if any of them don't want to, they have to come back another day to play.-
The fearful Marlene .... does not want to continue. Anthony reminds her: - I give you the place, so you can decide your future once and for all. Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, they all shout.
The next step is ....
-Roll a die, ask a question and look at yourself in the mirror.-
When the die falls, the train moves forward unexpectedly, Marlene's hands start to sweat, this happens when she is afraid. Marlene says in an almost inaudible voice:
-Will I be a painter of pictures?-
The train continues to move forward and beeps. Marlene starts to cry.
-I don't like this, it's too weird. .....-
Anthony gives the order: -look in the mirror.-
Marlene obeys, she is always used to it. Her countenance changes, she smiles.... had never seen her do it that way before. ....
-What do you see?-
-I see myself painting pictures, I'm famous. They call me the naïve painter......pum another book falls and Marlene jumps with fright. Now you can't see anything.Everything is erased......-
-Well, you've seen your future, you're a famous painter. What more do you want? Now you, Martin,- Anthony rebuked.
Martin, since the day his father lost his house, has been carrying his rage inside him. He is all excited but pales when he sees the mirror.
-Are you all right, Martin?- asks Brigitte.
-Yes. I saw that I'm studying law but I can't graduate yet. I hear that they tell me that I have to heal, the anger, before I can graduate. My vision is blurry.-
-There, you've seen something. I already have my mom's approval. I will be a runway model. The money I get will be used to build and maintain an orphanage. But I'm still going to see ......-
answers the charming and determined Brigitte, 10 years old.
-What happened? You look different now,- observes Anthony.
-I'm not a model. Why?-
-You have other missions,- answers an old man with a long white beard surrounded by a glow. I'm showing you. .....
The astonishment was captured in his bright eyes that seemed to change color.....
-I graduate as a psychologist, but I marry a millionaire and I work in an orphanage. There I am the coordinator of everything.-
-Your turn Anthony, I'll read,- says Brigitte with poise and determination.
As she finishes reading, the train stops..... Anthony looks at his future....
-I study several things at the same time, I can't tell what they are telling me. Now I travel to India, there I am in a seminar, and then I see myself teaching a crowd of people. The vision got there.-
The determined Anthony was shocked, he had never thought of traveling, the vision left him bewildered.
Again Brigitte is heard:
-Get everything put away I just saw my mom, she's bringing us snack. It's already late..... Each of you will do a part of the homework, so we will finish faster. Then you will go home, but without commenting on what happened. We have a clearer picture of our future.-
An unexpected book gives the key to destiny by María del Carmen Sánchez Copyright © 2022