I lived my sixth life quite happily until my cat died.

Only then I realised that Meggi was ahead of me, already on her seventh life. I was not ready for this, for letting her go, for saying goodbye. We had plans for our seventh life together, for the Italian coast, fresh fish and lounging in the sun. Now, my seventh life looked bleak, and I didn’t know what to do with it.

I dialled the number at the end of Home Décor magazine and made an appointment. Arquiella welcomed me into her home like it was a great honour. She was all curtsies and smiles and offers of tea and biscuits. She looked different to what I expected. Where were the jingly necklaces and bracelets? Where were the long dress and the veil?

She said, sit down dear, so I did.
Arquiella waved her hands performing reiki, chakra cleansing and aura refurbishment. She did not use the word refurbishment; I did, as I was in the middle of the bathroom renovation in my house.
Extend your hand, she said, so I did, even though the cards she placed on my palm looked exactly like the ones I saw in the latest issue of the Teen Witch magazine. Curious that. Arquiella took the cards off, shuffled them and laid five on the table.

This is you, Arquiella said and turned over the first card. The Dead Flower.

This is your past, she said. Two Lovers.

What does it even mean, I asked, hoping we would go back on track, and I would find out what to do with my seventh life.

This is your future, she said and turned to another. The Cave.
What should I do with my remaining life? I cut to the chase. Do I become a speleologist?

Arquiella shrugged and revealed the rest of the cards. The Soldier. The House.

Warrior speleologist, who lives in a house full of dead flowers? I got up from the chair, ready to walk out.

Be quiet and listen. Arquiella swatted me on the hand with the last card. Meggi tells you to stop being a baby and adopt a rescue cat from the shelter.

I never finished renovating that bathroom. I walked out of Arquiella's straight to the Fraser Bridge.

So here I am, eating Pesce al Forno and looking at the setting sun. Meggi, who happens to be an old, scarred tomcat, sits on the warm brick wall.

Dare I say we live our seventh lives quite happily?