Xolani
“We are our decisions.”
– Professor Salam Al Shereida
Xolani flipped the card back and forth several times as if some magical explanation would present itself before her.She bit her bottom lip as she focused on the card and tried to remember where she’d picked it up.She placed it down on the coffee table in her living room as she eyed it warily, almost expecting it to just vanish or move on its own.
She sat down next to her friend with a large glass of wine between them both to relax for the evening.She’d called her over because the presence of the card had her flustered.She told her how she found the card and that she had no idea where she’d picked it up, or if Aurora had dropped it.
Looking over at her bestie Aurora Cruz, she asked, “Well?”
“Well, what?”Aurora asked as she shrugged.“It’s a business card for Club Fantasy.”
“Did you drop this in my office when you came to visit?”
“No, I didn’t drop it or leave it in your office.”
Xolani huffed and picked up the card again, turning it this way and that.“I can’t help but wonder how it ended up in my office of all places.”She gazed into Aurora’s eyes and didn’t see any deception.Her friend wouldn’t lie to her, she knew, but where could this card have come from?
“If you ask me, it’s a sign,” Aurora remarked.
“A sign of what?”
“You remember some years ago, when I was basically suffering from the same workaholic issue that you have now?”
“Yes, but what has that got to do with me?”Xolani asked.
“Everything.I went to the club and that magical night turned into hours of pleasure.It helped me to finally be able to get straight.”
Xolani laughed so hard that, for a few minutes, she was gasping for breath.
Aurora just crossed her arms over her chest and waited for her to stop her giggling fit.
With tears still in her eyes, Xolani tried to keep a straight face.
“Are you done?”Her full lips turned up in a grin letting Xolani know she wasn’t as upset as she sounded.
“Yes ma’am, at least for now.”
“You are due some vacation so a few nights or two or three or four won’t hurt you.Have your patients talk to one of your colleagues, so you can get your gas tank rearranged.”
“Damn girl, do you have to put it like that?”Xolani exclaimed.
“Yep.What are you going to do?Besides, from what my husband said, the cards are tuned into the receiver and whatever you need or want displays on the card.”
“Well when I look at it.”Xolani shook her head.“It means I need sleep, not some hot fuck.”
“Has anything else helped to get you that sleep?”
“Well...no.”Xolani eyed the card again and the number seemed to shimmer brighter, making her blink as she stared down at it.She wasn’t a person who believed in things that went bump in the night or magic, but damned if the card didn’t seem full of magic just the same.She sighed and looked over at Aurora.“I think if I can get this one man out of my head, perhaps I could function.”
“I know that the club worked miracles for me, the same thing can happen for you.You just have to be open-minded.Maybe they can get some close enough in features for you to pretend.”
“I’ll have to fill out some forms and, voila, they will find my dream lover?”Xolani asked in disbelief.
“Felipe said that with the rise of technology and artificial intelligence, they now use computers.I would think that would mean any new clients would be using the newest tech.”
Xolani shook her head.“I can’t believe I’m seriously thinking about this.”
