Emily’s questions about her identity would be answered in the near future at the most unexpected of venues. The Wisconsin State Fair was in full swing - a spectacle of sights and sounds for adults and children alike. Emily couldn’t recall ever attending such a fair before, and definitely not not one quite like this. The name was a bit misleading; it was less a fair and more a rather large carnival, with a mix of rural charm, petting zoos, hay rides and - a colorful blend of with music, laughter, cotton candy, and, of course, Wisconsin brats (a type of sausage) sizzling away. The hustle and bustle of the fair was enough to, for some time, distract Emily from more pressing questions of the personal nature.

  Lucy and Lily raced ahead, their youthful enthusiasm contagious. Emily couldn’t help but join them, caught up in the moment. “Hey, where exactly are we running to? Or…are we just running?” she wondered breathlessly with amusement as she ran behind them. The kids' parents strolled behind at a leisurely pace, soaking in the fair’s joyous atmosphere.

  Emily turned and smiled, pleased that her family, and Lily and Lucy’s family had become near and dear since the fateful tornado escape. Her smile faltered for just a moment as that familiar voice whispered “Making friends sucks…especially as you get older…I’m glad you helped your family make some new bonds too.”.

  For a moment, Emily’s smile faltered as fears and questions about this voice arose again, pushing her upbeat mood aside for a moment. Her smile returned when she noticed Lily’s father and mother at the fair together. There was still a hint of unease between them, but they seemed more relaxed, as if the recent close call had softened some of the old tensions. Emily speculated whether nearly losing their daughter had lifted some of their emotional load, making them comprehend what truly mattered.

  The families ventured from stall to stall, playing games and sometimes winning small prizes. Emily felt temporarily liberated, throwing herself into the simple pleasures of the fair - her favorite shooting balloons with a pellet gun. Together, the children rode carousels, indulged in cotton candy, and captured silly, moments in a photo booth. Amidst the laughter and camaraderie, Emily found herself embracing the carefree spirit of youth, momentarily free from the weight of her secrets and questions about the nature of her identity.

  Passing by a beer tent, she felt a curious echo from another time - almost a longing?. She dismissed it with a smirk, instead choosing a piping cup of hot chocolate. The choice felt, after all, far more intuitive and satisfying in the chilly air!

  —

  As they meandered through the fairgrounds, Emily's eyes were drawn to a tent unlike the others. Adorned with mystical symbols and a sign that read "Madame Zara - Seer of Secrets," it called to her immediately. Curiosity piqued, Emily suggested they visit the fortune teller, and her friends joined in the childlike clamor, begging their parents for permission. With some hesitation, the parents agreed—some more reluctantly than others, eyeing the price tag for a reading.

  Emily entered Madame Zara’s dimly lit tent with Lily and Lucy; the parents deigning to wait outside. The air was heavy with incense and the soft murmur of what sounded like wind chimes?. A round table, draped in a red cloth, stood at its center, surrounded by ancient-looking objects and artifacts and flickering candlelight. The obligatory crystal ball sat in the middle of the table. “Well, isn’t this stereotypical”… Emily thought to herself with a quiet chuckle, drawn nevertheless like a moth to a flame.

  Madame Zara, a senior-looking woman with piercing eyes and a peaceful, serene smile, awaited their arrival. "Welcome," she greeted warmly with heavy affectation, her gaze seemingly penetrating beyond the surface. "Come, sit. Let Madame Zara reveal the secrets that beckon from within," she added in a mysterious singsong voice. "Show me your palms, children, one at a time."

  Lucy, unsurprisingly, was the first to push her way through and almost proudly present her palm. Madame Zara began with open-ended predictions, her words light-hearted, drawing laughter and wide-eyed wonder from the group. “Maybe you need to be a little more… observant… Lucy… listen more and talk less sometimes, child?” she advised, earning giggles from the others. Turning to Lily and examining her palm, she said, “Child - it is fine to speak your mind more often. Your parents also love you very much… no matter which house they may live in,” which made Lily blush and nod.

  “‘Huh… that's really..good advice,” Emily thought, watching her friends’ reactions. Was there some truth to this whole palm-reading business? Or was Madame Zara just really good at leading questions and reading personalities? She couldn’t decide but felt a flutter of anticipation as her turn approached.

  Madame Zara took Emily’s hand, her demeanor shifted, her touch gentle yet curious, purposeful. The fortune teller’s eyes narrowed in concentration, and her lips moved in whispered incantations, her expression turning slightly intense. With a quick, almost imperceptible glance, she asked the other children to step outside, explaining with an almost forced smile that it was getting a bit too noisy for her to concentrate.

  “Well, now this is different—I wondered when I would see this,” she murmured, her previous affectations falling away to reveal a curiosity and seriousness. She placed Emily’s palm down gently, her gaze piercing her eyes as she searched for something hidden beneath the surface within Emily..

  Emily felt a flicker of uneasiness, a part of her wanting to flee - to run right then and there, yet she remained rooted to the spot, held by an inexplicable gravity pull. The air almost seemed to get heavier, the dim light of the tent casting long shadows that danced magically around them.

  “Don’t be scared, child. I am merely trying to understand your… gift,” Madame Zara began softly, her voice now imbued with a deep almost reverent tone.

  “You carry a unique energy,” she continued, her words resonating with gravity. “It feels as though… two souls reside within you. A blend of youth and wisdom, innocence and experience, joy and pain…yes..something..incredible..”

  —

  The words hung in the air, echoing in Emily’s mind, stirring something deep within her, as if someone else was listening as well. Shetook a deep breath as a shiver ran down her spine, and she wasn't sure if it was caused by a sudden chill in the air or the excitement and nervousness flowing through her.

  This revelation, spoken so matter-of-factly, felt like a key turning in a lock she hadn’t known existed. It was as though Madame Zara, with just a few words, had hastened awakening a part of her that had been quietly waiting for recognition—something she had been close to understanding but had been unable or unwilling to fully grasp. She felt the mental gears click into place, levers falling into alignment, as her mental gates opened, blocks falling away.

  "I’ve felt…different...for a long time,” Emily whispered, her eyes shining with excitement and understanding. “I’ve been trying to make sense of it for so long…like I am me but not me…but I just couldn’t quite figure it out.”

  Both Emily and Madame Zara sat in silence - absorbing the weight of the moment.

  Emily felt a whirlwind of emotions—scared, excited, and curious all at once. She finally asked again, her voice barely above a whisper, “What does that mean? Am I...someone else too?”

  Madame Zara closed her eyes, gently humming to herself and sitting up straight, suddenly appearing much taller than she was. "Close your eyes, child, and breathe with me...deeply." Emily cautiously obliged, closing her eyes, attempting to breathe in time with Madame Zara. She felt vulnerable in that tent as her deepest secret was laid out so deftly, nervous at what she was about to learn, but excited and cautiously optimistic at the same time as every cell in her body just knew she was so close to finally answering the questions that had eluded her so long.

  As she slowly relaxed, the tension in her body began to ebb away as her rapid breathing gradually slowed. Madame Zara slowly guided her into a trance-like state over what felt like hours, and slowly but surely the boundaries of consciousness seemed to blur.

  Emily descended into this deep meditative state, swaying visions slowly beginning to unfold before her inner mind’s eye. The visions became clearer the deeper she delved into this meditative state and they began to coalesce into images. She saw vibrant strings of energy, flowing and intertwining, crashing and bursting like electrical storms. Lightning crackled in the distance, illuminating the scene with flashes of brilliant light.

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  The distant sounds of the fair—the laughter of children, the hum of carnival rides, and the faint echoes of music—seemed to fade into nothingness, leaving only the sound of her own heartbeat and the lightning in her visions thundering in her ears.

  Emily felt a wave of intimidation wash over her, a sudden urge to pull back from the intensity of the experience. But Madame Zara’s gentle yet firm voice cut through her hesitation. "Child—you are almost there. Stay with me, stay with... him."

  —

  Madame Zara's words unexpectedly steeled Emily. For a moment, she wondered how someone she had just met could offer such sanctuary, but a gentle nudge—almost an instinct—entreated her to focus on the task at hand.

  Taking a deep breath, Emily pushed through, forcefully recentering herself. The chaotic scene of flashing lights and electrical storms slowly began to stabilize. The crackling lightning dissipated, replaced by the delicate scent of cherry blossoms filling the air. She could hear the gentle rustling of wind through unseen leaves, accompanied by the occasional cheerful chirp of a bird.

  "You carry memories and wisdom from another life, another..universe" Madame Zara's voice echoed in the dream. "You carry pain. You are two but one—yet you are also your own person. These two identities intertwine, creating something new and extraordinary... oh, so extraordinary... a second consciousness, but it's part of you, intertwined. It feels what you feel, you feel what it feels—two threads combining to create something new."

  Amidst the brightness, Emily perceived the shadow of a man, no - was it a boy - no definitely looked like a man, standing with his hands in his pockets. His presence felt both familiar and distant, like a whisper from another time.

  "Emily..." he called softly, his voice barely a whisper, yet resonating deeply within her. As quickly as he appeared, the figure began to fade away, leaving Emily with a profound sense of connection and understanding.

  "Daniel..." Emily whispered, as a new understanding dawned on her. Her mind reeled with conflicting emotions—shock, relief, and a profound sense of comprehension as a dam burst within her.

  Memories—vivid, sharp, and overwhelming—flooded her consciousness. She saw images of Daniel's life: the sterile, harsh lighting of an office, late nights spent tinkering with technology, his hands moving with practiced ease. She felt his frustration and despair, the weight of his depression, and the hopelessness that had seeped into every aspect of his existence.

  Then, interwoven with Daniel's memories, came her own. She remembered moments from her early childhood that she had forgotten over time —playing in the park with her parents, the joy of discovering a new toy, the warmth of her mother's embrace as a toddler, and the comforting presence of her father. She saw herself laughing, crying, learning to walk and speak—each memory vivid and real.

  Emily's breath caught as the two sets of memories overlapped, creating a blend of experiences that spanned two lives. She even saw herself during the tornado incident, guided by Daniel's adult knowledge and instinct as she saved her family.

  She felt a rush of emotions—Daniel's pride in his technical prowess, her own childlike joy at accomplishing something difficult, and the profound connection she felt to her family. It was as if two rivers had merged into one, their waters flowing together, creating a new and stronger current.

  Emily's mind whirled, the images and feelings coming so fast she could barely process them. Yet, amidst the chaos, she felt a strange sense of peace as the two identities within her found harmony. She was both Emily and Daniel, yet something new entirely—an extraordinary blend of innocence and experience, youth and wisdom.

  —

  Emily opened her eyes with a gasp and found herself in Madame Zara’s tent once more - her mind loaded with all that she had seen, and understood. She felt multiple emotions at once - excitement, happiness, nervousness, awe, curiosity, disbelief - as the understanding of her unique identity finally dawned on her, the pieces of the puzzle finally falling into place. As she focused her eyes, she found herself looking back in Madame Zara's direction. The fortune teller's serene smile and piercing gaze grounded her, bringing her back to the present.

  Madame Zara smiled kindly. "Two will become one Emily…two are becoming one. Embrace this path, this gift, and who you are becoming," she encouraged. "You are not defined solely by your past or present, but by your journey... your..evolution.”

  With a discrete movement, Madame Zara slipped a card into Emily's hand. “Your journey is one that even I cannot fully foresee, child. It has been my honor to help you take the first steps. If ever you find yourself in need of further guidance, you will know how to reach me.” Her voice was calm but carried an air of mystery , leaving Emily with a sense of both comfort and curiosity.

  Emily took the card, feeling far more weight in her hand than she expected, as if it carried more than just contact information. With a smile, she nodded at Madame Zara, and securely tucked the card away, knowing this was something she’d need to keep to herself for now.

  As she stood up to depart, a subtle nudge, almost like a whisper from deep within her, made her pause. "The time is coming… she is ready," it whispered, a sense of inevitability washing over her. Emily blinked, unsure if she had imagined it, but somehow knew that it was Daniel, or a part of him, reaching out to her.

  —

  Stepping out of the tent, Emily squinted against the bright sunlight, feeling as though hours had passed inside. The whole experience had left her with a strange blend of emotions that she couldn’t quite put into words. Her friends rushed up to her, chattering excitedly, their curiosity bubbling over.

  "What? You’re out already?” Lucy exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.

  “Yeah, when Madame Zara told us to leave, we thought it was something really special,” Nate speculated, his voice tinged with disappointment, perhaps expecting something magical to have happened in that spell?

  Lily, ever the quiet observer, shrugged her shoulders. “Anything interesting happen, Emily? You were only in there for a little bit...”

  Emily furrowed her brow. It had certainly felt like longer—like she had been in another world entirely. “How long was I gone?” she asked skeptically, simultaneously trying to mask her the emotional aftermath of her experience.

  “Oh…just a few minutes…maybe five or ten?” Lucy responded casually, unaware of the significance those minutes held for Emily.

  Emily hesitated, searching for the right words, as she still struggled to entirely process the weight of Madame Zara’s words. With a smile she decided to tell the partial truth "It’s hard to explain…she... she said I’m wise, I have a…guide…and I’ll grow up to be someone…incredible. It's all good stuff—just means I have a lot to learn and share."

  She hoped her tone conveyed the lightheartedness of a typical fortune-teller’s vague prediction. Inside however - the words resonated deeply, as she carried a truth she recognized but did not truly comprehend yet.

  Lily chuckled, surprising the group with a rare joke. “Well, we already knew you were awesome, Em.” Lucy nodded vigorously in agreement, the simple validation warming Emily’s heart, even if her thoughts were elsewhere in that instance.

  —

  As they exited the fairground, Sarah and Thomas, who had been waiting nearby, noticed a subtle but distinct change in Emily’s demeanor. Her eyes held a deeper understanding, she seemed more composed, and - lighter?

  "Emily…you look different…are you okay?" Sarah asked gently, her concern evident. “Why did Madame Zara want to see you alone?”

  "I'm fine, Mom. We were just being loud, and Madame Zara needed some quiet. That’s why she asked the others to wait outside. You know Lucy…" Emily chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. She wasn’t ready to share the secrets about her dual identity just yet, especially as she continued to process the facets of what she had learned about herself.

  "Did the fortune teller tell you anything interesting?" Thomas asked, his tone curious but light. "Maybe how your dad can win the lottery?" he added with a chuckle.

  Emily nodded, not wanting to lie to her parents but unprepared to reveal the full truth. "Yeah—she said I’m unique, that I have…wisdom beyond my years."

  As she thought back to her time with Madame Zara—the threads colliding, the lightning in the void, the smell of cherry blossoms—Emily drifted into a semi-trance. Without realizing it, she let slip more than she intended. "Almost like I’m a blend of different experiences…" she murmured, her voice growing distant and dreamlike. "Reality is much more complex than I thought…."

  Emily saw her parents exchange a glance, they had clearly sensed that Emily’s experience had more depth than she was letting on, but thankfully they decided not to press further at the time.

  Nevertheless, as they walked away from the tent, Emily felt a strange sense of clarity and peace. For the first time, she didn’t feel alone with her secrets.

  She knew she should feel scared, perhaps petrified at the thought of sharing her mind with Daniel - but for reasons that escaped her - she wasn’t. Instead of sounding like the plot of a terrifying sci-fi movie, It felt right - as if something had fallen into place - something inevitable. Like this had always been a part of her, waiting to be discovered. Somehow, she knew she could trust Daniel. He’d always been there, hadn’t he? Watching out for her, like a guardian in the shadows? Hadn’t he helped save her family and friends?

  The fair continued around them, a swirl of colors, sounds, and smells, but to Emily, the world seemed just a little bit different—more connected, more unified. She knew this moment was a turning point, the beginning of a new understanding of who she was and who she was becoming.

  As they made their way to the car, Emily felt the card Madame Zara had given her nestled in her pocket. She knew it wasn’t just a token; it was a connection to something larger, a guide for when she needed it most.

  As she looked out at the receding fairgrounds, a thought bubbled up from deep inside her. "Who are you, Daniel? Really? We need to meet…." The thought was both comforting and unsettling, leaving Emily with more questions than answers, but also with a newfound sense of purpose.