The day started off as if I was dreaming. It was unclear whether this was real or make-believe because of the nightmare I had the previous evening. I was driving through my village dazed and confused on my way to the chiropractor’s appointment I had that morning. Since my village is a place meant for riding horses, I was not surprised to see them on this beautiful autumn day; where all the different colored leaves would crackle together under the horse’s hoof. I came around the corner to see another rider crossing the road at the stop sign. This gorgeous horse with a blonde mane reminded me of my dear friend’s horse. I had not heard from my friend for almost seven months. She had vanished without a trance or an explanation. All I had heard was the stories her family and friends told me. The stories had put a dark cloud over my heart. She was not well.
By the time I had refocused on the stop sign, this rider had already gotten across to the trail. As I approached the stop sign, I noticed on this women’s muscular calf, a tattoo that was unique. It was the tattoo that reminded me of the exact same one that was my friend’s creation. IT WAS HER! By the time I figured this out, I had already gone through the stop sign. Without hesitation, I jerked my steering wheel and did a u- turn. As I got to the intersection where the street and the trail met, I parked and waited. As she trotted towards me, I yelled her name. It seemed as if she saw a ghost and stopped. We began to chat. She was still the sweet girl I was best friends with but with the exception of a mental breakdown.
If it was not for that exact time, on that specific day I had left my house, I would have never found her. This is why I believe fate is present and along for the ride when choosing your path in life.
Now most people would say fate is ridiculous but in fact, the definition for fate is “something that’s unavoidably befalls a person.” I am not saying that you have no control over your life or that it’s carved in stone before you even exist. Fate can be a sudden encounter. When you least expect to see someone, they are there at that exact moment you were thinking of them. This is not the first time I have had these types of encounters but at the same time I don’t know where I would be without them. These fate- influenced encounters not only bring hope but also give me a reminder that no matter how hard you think life is being; there is always light at the end of the tunnel when you least expect it.
So the next time something strange happens to you, remember life has a way of shaking things up. That day might have seemed like a dream but as Marcus Aurelius quote states: Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. It has been two months now and our friendship is stronger than ever.