"I understand that you fight for your dreams, and that is very noble of you. What I am referring to, however, are unattainable dreams. The ones you mention that no one ever truly realizes." Her expression softened at his obvious distress, but she was here to tell him the truth of the matter, even if it hurt. She reached forward to touch his hand lightly, slowly withdrawing it. "As for your friend, that is probably the one I see here. If you feel he is stalking those you are interested in, then I would say yes, that is him."<br/><br/>Smiling gently now, her eyes crinkled softly, "Yes, you have friends," she said. "You do have true friends. But, you also have false ones. And I have the feeling you already know which ones those are. This card is warning you to take heed and look to see who is truly your friend, and who is not."<br/><br/>Pursing her lips once more, she continued on to the next card. "Now, let's talk about The Emperor. This represents your 'near future' or what will happen soon. The Emperor is a former general, a man who has won his throne through battles. He is not afraid to go after what is his, and he will fight for what he thinks or feels is right. So, in this sense, I have the feeling that you may confront those who have been working against you. You want to re-establish some order, get things back to where they used to be. This card is all about seizing your power, and I think that's something you need to do right now."<br/><br/>"Finally, we have the Eight of Cups," she says, pointing to the last card in the line. "This is the 'far future' where you are heading eventually." She looks at the figure walking away and sighs. "You will find no use for the relationships you have at the moment. Disillusioned, you will wander alone for some time before seeking love again. Your friends have betrayed you. It is even possible that your love has betrayed you." Her face was sad, but she knew this was not the end. "It is a shame that you have had to experience all this, but as I like to believe, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. You will learn not to put your head in the clouds anymore, to pay attention to what's going on around you. It is a hard lesson, but one that is necessary."<br/><br/>"I see you noticed the other card, the Ten of Swords. It is hidden at the bottom of the deck, and when a troubling reading comes up, I often look there for a hidden message for my client. In this case, it is telling you not to be afraid to start over. Swords are about the intellect, and you must not let your mind keep you from wiping the slate clean out of fear. Yes, you have some true friends, but you also have false ones. You need to get rid of those and not let the experience make you bitter for your future. There is always hope." At this last, she smiled and met his gaze once more, her honeyed eyes warm and inviting.<br/><br/>"Now, once more, I'd like to ask if you have any questions for me about your reading?"