TASSEOMANCY

As the steam rises, it brings with it the calming scent of bergamot and black tea. You watch the floating dried leaves unfurl as dark brown tendrils seep from them. Once plump, the leaves sink down to the bottom of the cup. You gingerly stir in a spoonful of sugar, watching the hot water grow even darker. You clink the spoon against the cup rim twice and set it on the saucer. As you lift the cup up, you give it a cooling blow before touching the gold rim to your lips to take the first sip. Warmth creeps through your chest and prickles down your arms and legs. You sit back in your chair to relish the feeling of a chill evading your bones. Nothing compares to the first sip. Steam still dances off the top of the teacup as you enjoy its contents down to the last drop. On a whim, you decide to see what your tea leaves have in store for you. You place the saucer upside down on top of the cup and inverse them before lifting the cup to see what fate has in store. Your tasseography is a touch rusty, but you are able to make out the shape of a fish within the leaves; a good omen sent from afar.