“Can you cheat death”

It was a warm autumn afternoon when Elena first heard about Madame Verene, a psychic who could foretell the exact moment of a person’s death. For most people, this was a terrifying notion, but Elena couldn’t shake her curiosity. At just 22 years old, she had a full life ahead of her, and the idea of glimpsing into her future both thrilled and unnerved her. After weeks of indecision, she finally made an appointment.

Madame Verene’s tent was hidden away at the edge of town, draped in dark velvet curtains, with a scent of incense that clung to the air. The psychic was an elderly woman with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through Elena’s soul the moment she stepped inside.

“Do you really want to know?” the psychic asked, her voice a low rasp.

Elena nodded, her hands trembling. She felt foolish, but something deep inside pushed her forward. Madame Verene took her hand, closing her eyes. After a long silence, she spoke.

“Four years from now, on October 13th, at precisely 6:47 PM, you will die in a car accident on Elmwood Bridge.”

Elena’s breath hitched. The date was like a curse, searing itself into her mind. She could feel the weight of the prediction crushing her.

“Can I stop it?” Elena whispered, her voice small and hopeful.

The psychic’s eyes opened, darker and colder than before. “You can try.”

From that moment on, Elena’s life became a constant battle with time. Four years. Every day felt like…