The red thread of fate ✄ 𓍯 Part 2

The True Ending:

The shaman hisses back, “You insolent little child. There are many things you do not understand, so let me spell it out for you: you might not be meant to unite in this lifetime, but you may reunite forever in the next. Do you really want to give that up?”

My thoughts race faster than my heart. I don’t want hope. I don’t want to endure such gut-wrenching agony based merely on a what-if. Why would I do that to myself? What was the purpose in meeting him for only a season, but for no reason? Why would I reopen old wounds and delay my own healing? I do not believe in soulmates. I do not believe in the occult. 

Several months have already passed since I last saw him during the Autumn Equinox. As I’ve grown older, I have also grown colder by the day. I found myself becoming more of an Ice Queen, my heart a glacier in deadlock. I’ve met new people and thought, “So, what’s the lesson here?” and not, “It’s finally my turn.” I don’t want to live like that anymore. This isn’t the end of love for me. It’s the beginning of understanding what real love should feel like. He is just someone I once knew. Afterall, if he was truly my “soulmate” why would he ruin something so beautiful?

This story is already finished—I’m just waiting for an epilogue that isn’t coming.

Now resolute in my decision, my thoughts have raced past the finish line in overwhelming victory. 

“I understand. Proceed with the cord-cutting ritual please.”

The shaman laughs melodically. The wind that was once roaring, now a gentle whistle. The glow from the oriental lanterns warms the room as the candle wick persists against the oil, fighting with its last breath. 

She removes her mask, revealing an all-knowing smirk that crinkles her nose. “Good. I was just testing your resolve.”

I gasp in disbelief. “Y-You—”

She interrupts, “You have learned your spiritual lesson and will not be doomed to repeat the same cycle again. We shall proceed with the ritual.” Turning around, she opens a wooden drawer from an oak dresser behind her and pulls out a red ribbon alongside a pair of silver shears that were tarnished with age.

Placing them in front of me, the shaman gently picks up the bell sitting at the edge of the reading table.

She then instructs, “I will call on the spirits of the Gods and Goddesses to aid in this separation. After the third bell chime, I will hold the red thread of fate and you must use the scissors to snip your connection to him for all eternity. Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I say with conviction. 

“Then we shall commence.”

She closes her eyes, breathes in deeply, and begins to hum. 

The shaman then swiftly rings the golden bell that had a talisman in red ink tied to its handle.

Ding! 

A sharp pain resonates throughout my chest, as though the red thread of fate wanted to cling onto me for dear life. I fight back tears.

Ding! 

The noose on my heart loosens, releasing me from the chokehold of the red rope of fate. I find my breath again.

Ding!

The last bell chime reverberates throughout my entire body, definitively opening my heart to love again.

A part of my soul is now free.

Using the last ounce of energy my soul could muster, I barely manage to hold the silver shears in my hands. The warm metal, as hot as a Spring sun melting the last drop of snow. 

I snip the ribbon.

As though I’ve released myself from a yoke, I sigh in relief.

The Red Spider Lily (꽃무릇)

After the ritual, I exit the tent only to find myself facing a serene snowfall. The Lunar Year Festival is long over, and I am alone to face nature’s peace in renewed tranquility. I trudge through the snow, admiring the last snowfall before the sakura trees blossom. They say that time heals all wounds, and thankfully so. Just as the seasons change, your pain is impermanent. As I get older, I grow warmer by the day. Once an Ice Queen, my heart is a glacier thawing out just in time for spring’s warm embrace. I meet new people, only to pleasantly rediscover my awe and wonder with the world. The space he once held in my heart is replenished with the love and support I already have in my life. By cutting the red thread of fate, I have unknowingly blessed myself to infinite possibilities in every lifetime. Shedding my old skin like a snake, I am as good as new. The Vernal Equinox has arrived, and I am reborn to live through all four seasons.  

Happy Lunar New Year! It is the Year of the Snake, this year is about shedding old skin, renewal, and growth. It’s out with the old and in with the new!

Author’s Note:

I’m sorry for writing a literal novella 💀 LMAO. I wanted to create several endings for this story, but could not come to a decision. I decided to first show the Bad Ending because, well, I think it would have hit harder in terms of emotions and tragedy (I love depression LOL). However, the true ending is that the protagonist will move on. Life goes on. It’s such an ordinary ending but the most realistic and that’s because, well, there are no such things as soulmates, fate, and destiny (imo). I thought of creating a Good Ending in which everyone ends up happy, she ends up with the boy in her next life, and everything is nicely wrapped up with a bow tie on top. But I don’t like to sell fake dreams when it comes to my storytelling. That’s not life. I prefer the True Ending because I think by cutting that red thread of fate, it opens up infinite possibilities in life which is much better than living strictly on one path. Idk tho, what ending do you guys prefer?

Context:

Red Spider Lilies are my favorite flowers because they have come to mean something so important to me. Death, separation, and goodbyes is what has made up my entire life. In 2024, I went to a mountain temple in Jeollanam-do (전라남도) to attend the annual autumn red spider lily festival (불갑산 상사화 축제). That is when I encountered Korea’s legend of the red spider lily and I cried after listening LOL. It’s the exact same story as what the shaman told in my story but this one is what is original to Korea. There are many other legends but they’re either Japanese or Chinese so I wanted to write about something that is original to my country. Although it’s a rough translation from Korean, I hope you enjoyed it! Shamanism is very common in Korea and many people such as couples will meet with a shaman to determine the outcome of their relationship, career, and family issues. This story is kind of like my last love letter to Korea before I move permanently. I will miss the strange traditions and practices of this tragic country plagued with wars and misfortune. The cherry blossoms will bloom next month. 

Also, I wanted to add tarot card reading into my story to add to the overall feeling of mysticism so I may not have used them accurately, my apologies! By combining the Death card and The Lovers card, I wanted to indicate the gradual end of the romantic relationship in the story. However, Death also symbolizes renewal and rebirth meaning that there is also hope. I also added the Wheel of Fortune because it symbolizes the life cycle, much like the seasonal changes. It means new possibilities and reminds us that life is constantly evolving with or without our consent. However, the wheel of fortune card in reverse has a very sinister meaning: bad luck and misfortune.