Mari's Story - The Fair

The world was filled with life this morning. Mari breathed deeply in the midst of a throng hurrying towards the brightly colored tents. She could smell the awakening around her. There was a sense that this was what life was lived for--a preparation for the fair. Now that it was here they were the few precious hours to live and then for an entire year prepare again.
Mari laughed at the notion. If it wasn't this or that it was that celebration there was a holiday of some sort. The living was done in the nooks and crannies of life where escape from the repetition of the grind was to be found.
She passed into crowd bumping into juggling acrobats and jostling among the populace. She liked the feel of people moving all around here. There was something reassuring in the presence of so many familiars even if she did not know their names. They were all of Venicur were they not? Stopping now and then to smell eagerly the fresh roasted meat or bread just now removed from the heat of the oven. In her pocket jingled two coins. Two not three or ten, but two. Mari sighed and then bracing herself pulled her hand away from her pocket and told herself not to think about it, but enjoy what wasn't bought with silver. There was much to see and do. There were puppet shows and jugglers, bears dancing to drums, wrestling matches and swift brutal games of dice where coins danced from pocket to pocket swiftly.
"Your future sweetie?" Mari turned as a withered hand grasped her arm. The woman was short and bent her face half covered in a veil. She tugged again at the arm and Mari followed half protesting. The tent was filled with incense and sweat. On the table a crystal set on a plate of silver lay waiting. They sat across from each other the clear crystal the only thing not dirty beyond recognition.
"Your hand darling, your hand." Mari extended it cautiously.
"You can't pay, or won't," the witch said cheerfully, Mari nearly drew her hand back in surprise thinking now of the two silver pennies in her pocket. Saying nothing she waited. The witched rubbed her palm first one way and then the other. "You will find a man today, he is a prince." She smiled broadly, there were no teeth on the left side of her mouth. "He will fill all the parts of your heart that are not now filled." Mari frowned inwardly but said nothing. "Your happiness will not last forever. He will be unfaithful." The witch shook her head and turned away for a minute. "It is a sad story, but wait." She cackled as if having eluded a dangerous foe, "you can amend it, you need only..." she shook her head sadly, "it will be difficult."
"What will?" Mari demanded. The witch shook her head sadly. There was something wrong. The pit of Mari's stomache welled up. This tent, the woman. Leaping to her feet she crossed the table. "Look at me." The witch shook her head. Mari pulled away the veil which hid the crone's eyes from view. For a brief moment their eyes met and Mari knew. She ran.
Across the field bumping and ducking and pushing until she broke free and her legs churned faster and faster and her breath was ragged. Mari ran.