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Courtney Harvey is a recent graduate of King with a double major in English/Writing and Psychology. Her inspiration for “Psyche” came from the major arcana of the tarot, as it relates a complete journey of the psyche. In the future, she hopes to continue to use the tarot model to write a collection of short stories. PSYCHE The Fool “It’s time for me to leave.” Esther’s mother pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows at her daughter. She scanned Esther up and down, noting the overstuffed backpack over her shoulders, the small luggage she clutched with her right hand, and the tote bag over her left shoulder that she held in place. She sighed and shook her head. “You naïve little girl. You’re not ready for what’s out there; you aren’t capable without your father, me, and the rest of your family. We’re all you have.” “You may be all I have now,” Esther squeezed her things tighter, her palms sweaty as her fingernails dug into them, “but I can’t live here anymore.” “You’re delusional, girl.” Esther could almost taste the bitterness in her mother’s words as if they were her own. “And as soon as you walk out that door, you’re not my daughter.” Esther clung to her belongings and walked to the door, her concentration preoccupied with keeping her breath steady and her face expressionless—she couldn’t let the fear in her every movement be anything more than subtle. She opened the door with her left hand and stepped out into the sunlight, turning back to look inside. She stuck her hand in her pocket and produced a key from it, tossing it on the floor. The sound of it colliding against the hardwood floor rang in Esther’s ears. “I’ll find a new mother.” Esther only momentarily saw her mother’s face twist further into anger, for she closed the door, clutched her small suitcase to her chest, then ran. The Magician Esther wasn’t sure how far she ran before she stopped, but she was sure that she was exhausted and had no idea where to go. Her throat was dry, and she felt sticky with sweat. She took long, deep breaths as she racked her brain in an attempt to remember where they told her to meet them. Oh, God, what if I’ve gone too far? I don’t know how to get anywhere. She squeezed her eyes shut and took another deep breath, allowing herself to relax as she exhaled. I’ll find them. Even if I have to wander all across this city, I will find them. So, she wandered. She started farther down the road, taking in all the things around her. For the first time, she felt as though she had a choice; she could do or be anything she wanted. She was no longer held back by the ideology she was born into. She was free. The High Priestess Esther stopped to rest at a bench. She sat down and allowed herself to relax, setting her tote bag and luggage on the ground beside her. She watched the cars and people pass by, wondering what their lives may be like and where they were going.
