Intertwined Fates. Ariana Bazhenova

physically felt as warmth in the body? I should not talk about this topic much, otherwise you might think that I am making up fairy tales.

      – On the other hand, your story about Leo reminded me of someone. I recently read about such a concept as twin flames, – Kate thoughtfully wound a strand of red hair around her finger. – Have you heard anything about this?

      – In general terms, – I answered evasively. – And what have you read about them?

      – The meeting of twin flames is accompanied by a strange, paradoxical attraction, regardless of social boundaries. And it is very difficult to get rid of this attraction – after all, such people are deeply connected on an energetic level, and not for the first life.

      She paused, carefully trying to find the words. Finally, she gave in:

      – I’m afraid I’m wrong, because I saw this article two weeks ago. I’ll open it now, and we’ll read it together.

      Kate opened the list of bookmarks in the browser on her laptop, and we stared at the screen with interest. Having finished reading, I thoughtfully leaned back on the sofa, listening to my feelings. When I remembered Leo, a strange ball of warm, even burning energy seemed to light up in my chest.

      – That is, twin flames were once one whole on an energetic level, one consciousness, but decided to split into two in order to experience the nature of duality and reunite. The purpose of their meeting on earth is to experience unconditional love, to raise their vibrations and, subsequently, the vibrations of their environment. To love when everything is good for both of you is easy. But the main task is to awaken and preserve a sincere feeling inside, despite severe trials and tough conditions for relationships. Twin flames are the only ones who have the same frequency, so they are irresistibly drawn to each other – they know that only through reunion can they learn something very important and move to a new level of soul development.

      Kate nodded vigorously:

      – Yes, that’s right! I tried to express it in words, but I forgot the exact wording.

      – There is another interesting aspect, – I put my hand to the flaming ball of energy on my chest. – This article says that there is a strong energetic connection between twin flames, connecting hearts. I wonder if the fact that I feel warmth and burning in my chest when I think about Leo is our connection?

      – Who knows, friend! Time will tell, – Kate smiled. – I think I gave you a lot of food for thought. And now let’s set the table! It’s almost midnight.

      We generously set the table, filling it with prepared salads, appetizers, meat and champagne. I froze with a glass in my hands, impatiently awaiting those special seconds when I need to make a wish.

      It’s strange, but when the chimes began to strike, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. Just like on my birthday, Leo’s image stubbornly stood before my eyes.

      – Let us finally get closer in the new year! – I gave in and whispered in those cherished seconds, already forgetting that a couple of hours ago I was ashamed of my thoughts about him.

      I felt that at that moment the Universe was listening to me attentively, as were a million people around the world. I wonder what Leo himself wished for in those seconds?

      After celebrating the New Year, I started getting up early again, as I was used to. In St. Petersburg, I got up every day at six in the morning to get to work on time, and on weekends I didn’t want to waste my precious free hours sleeping. Getting enough sleep was not one of my habits, and even now, visiting Kate in Moscow, I got up early, cooked breakfast and sat down to read another book. Next in line was a classic work on evolutionary psychology.

      My interest in this topic was multiplied by the intoxicating feeling that my knowledge was needed and recognized by an authoritative person for me – Eva Schwein. Leo and I would do a deeply thought-out project and not lose face, it would be a real fusion of the energies of two people equal in intelligence and vitality. His appearance in my life was certainly alchemical, opening up in me tireless strength and interest in work – now it was done not mechanically, but with a spark, a piece of soul. One day I was walking along the streets of Moscow, richly decorated with New Year’s illuminations. My attention was drawn to the bright display window of a souvenir shop of a famous chocolate factory. I went inside and got lost among the abundance of sweets in bright wrappers, preserving the familiar and unchanging taste of childhood. This would be a good gift from the trip for my colleagues and… Leo. I must definitely bring him a small, non-binding present. I want to give him good memories.

      ***

      White canvas of snow. Dark lilac sky. Beginning of January. The first day at work in the new year is like a clean slate on which I wanted to write a new, inspiring story.

      I had a premonition that fate was gaining momentum, and now everything would begin to change rapidly. However, walking silently to work early in the morning along the trampled snowy road and looking at the infinitely high sky, I still returned to one thought. But not about Leo. I felt how the power inside me was growing and strengthening – the one that changed reality through thoughts, the one that set everything on fire in that bright dream at the beginning of the move to St. Petersburg, which still stood before my inner eye. What will this turn out to be for me? Am I ready to accept this power and learn to control it? If only there was a mentor who would notice these changes in me, support me and teach me what to do.

      My thoughts were accompanied only by the soft crunch of snow.

      But, having worked less than a couple of hours on the first day, I immediately received a personal invitation from Eva Schwein to come to her office. Usually, she did not bother to explain the purpose of the audience. Probably, it was a subconscious or even conscious move – she knew that she made a frightening impression on employees, especially on her subordinates, and enjoyed this feeling of power. Naturally, I climbed up to the second floor of the administration along the white marble stairs and felt a slight tremor in my legs – why did she need to see me in person?

      Trying to be as unnoticeable as a shadow, I entered the stuffy office with yellow walls and carefully perched myself on a leather chair behind a long table. Schwein got up from her seat, walked around the table covered with flowers and postcards from her travels, and sat down opposite me.

      – Kira, hi! How are you doing? – she asked in a friendly manner.

      – Good, – I answered carefully, watching her reaction. I considered what I could say next so as not to upset her.

      – I was told how enthusiastically you work on a psychology project. Do you like doing it?

      – Oh yes, very much! – my soul warmed up, as if from the sun’s rays, and a smile spread across my face.

      More than studying psychology, I liked to pass on knowledge about it to people. Having planted one seed, I influenced many people in the long run: after all, those who learned from me will change their perception and behavior, enrich their knowledge and then pass it on to their circle. Moreover, I loved teaching: by looking at a person and talking to them a little, I felt what kind of character they had, their interests and level of knowledge on the topic, and I could choose the right words so that the information reached them in an understandable form.

      – Kira, I see great, but still untapped potential in you. There is only one way to work with it – through practice, – our eyes met, and I noted how warmly she looked at me. This confident, strong gaze seemed to hypnotize, not allowing me to look away. – I have long wanted to implement one project…

      We discussed for a long time one of her original ideas on how to increase the trust rating of products through advertising in the media. Finally, Schwein, looking at me and as if scanning me with her eyes, nodded seriously:

      – And