Free All This Could End by Steph Bowe

Nina. ‘I remember everything. I’ll read your palm.’
    Before Spencer can stop her, Oh nah, I’m fine, I avoid human contact as much as possible , Nina reaches across and holds his right hand in her left, palm up.
    ‘This is your head line,’ she says, pointing to a line running horizontally across the middle of Spencer’s palm. ‘It has clues about personality. You’re practical, you won’t let your heart rule your head. And this is your life line. You’re indecisive, but your health is good.’
    Nina looks at his hand as she speaks. She’s shuffled closer, and peers at his palm in the fluorescent glow. He hopes she doesn’t notice his pulse. He gulps back some Coke.
    ‘Has it ever come in handy? This palm-reading? Do you believe in it?’
    ‘Palmistry,’ corrects Nina. ‘I like to believe it, because I believe in everything, but it doesn’t have much of a practical application, knowing your future, finding out about people’s personalities. Might as well just talk to them. Although it could be a hit at parties. Especially with drunk people.’
    ‘It’s fairly interesting sober, too,’ says Spencer. Every time he opens his mouth he dreads saying something idiotic—nothing new to him, but Nina is startlingly non-judgemental (the girls he knows just laugh in his face when he makes a fool of himself), so he’s extra nervous. If she thinks he’s insane, she probably won’t let on.
    ‘Ah, this is your luck line,’ says Nina. ‘It’s broken, so there’ll be a less fortunate period in your life.’
    ‘This is worse than a horoscope.’ Spencer laughs. ‘Has anyone ever, in the history of the universe, had an entirely positive life?’
    ‘Hey!’ says Nina. ‘I believe in astrology, too.’ But Spencer can hear the smile in her voice. ‘And here’s your heart line. You’re a romantic, but you’re not outgoing.’
    Spencer laughs again. ‘You reckon? But the romantic stuff, that’s rubbish. That’s enough for me.’
    Nina grins. ‘Okay, okay, but don’t you want to know that you’ll have a life of wealth and happiness? And that you’re destined to be famous?’
    ‘I don’t believe you!’ says Spencer.
    Nina laughs, lets go of his hand, and has a sip of Coke. ‘When you’re rich and famous I’ll be able to say I told you so.’
    He isn’t sure what to do with his hand now, so he rests it on the seat beside him, his entire body on fire. ‘And let me guess, I’ll have seven children.’
    ‘I don’t know about children, but I saw about three marriages,’ says Nina. She pushes her hair back from her face and Spencer doesn’t know whether to look at her or away from her or what. Ordinarily he’s awkward in the extreme, but he is not feeling ordinary or awkward right now, just extreme.
    ‘So what’s that thing no one knows about you?’ asks Nina. ‘If it’s something that’s sensitive, I swear to the gods, I will take it to the grave.’
    ‘Okay, um…I love Mah-Jong,’ says Spencer.
    Nina laughs loudly, startling the smokers. ‘That was shocking,’ she says.
    Spencer’s phone buzzes in his pocket. It could only be Bridie. He slides it out: Going to band’s place, you’ll be fine, right? He shows Nina.
    ‘Does this happen often?’ asks Nina, her brow wrinkled.
    Spencer shrugs, smiles. ‘I’m a glutton for punishment. Do you want to go, then? My parents will be worried, knowing them.’ Of course this is a lie—his father barely registers his existence, and his mother isn’t even around. If not for Bridie, the staff at the vet’s, and a couple of teachers, Spencer would feel like he didn’t even exist.
    ‘I’m not that big a fan of Vampires on Bikes,’ says Nina. ‘It’s their name I like more than anything.’
    The street is quiet, the night cool and bright with moonlight and stars, as they walk to the bus stop.
    ‘Did you know,’ says Nina, ‘that if the human eye were less limited, we’d see the night sky as pure starlight. The eye can’t discern