Meant To Be.

Discoverance

Entering the church where the wedding was about to start in I could not but help feel weird as I looked at the pictures of the happy couple. Something felt off, as if I knew them already, as if we were long time friends.

    "Hey dork, don't just stand there, I reserved a seat for you close to the front so you can see me shine as a groomsman." Luciano disrupts my thoughts as he leads me to the 3rd row close to the center.

    "Don't you look spiffy." I smile at him. He usually isn't the one to dress up, but today was an exception. A week ago he told me that his mate Olivia was not going to be able to attend because her sister was giving birth to her first baby. I met them freshmen year in high school in different classes but we have been inseparable ever since, especially Luciano and Olivia. They had found out they were mates when Olivia turned 16 and they've been happily together. We all agreed we would still be best friends no matter what, so here I am 9 years later doing them a favor.

    Don't get me wrong, Luciano was probably one of the hottest guys in school and many thought I was just waiting for Olivia and him to break up, but I just saw them as my siblings. I did promise Olivia though that I would go to the wedding with him so other girls wouldn't throw themselves at him and to drive him home after he gets stupid drunk. So here I am once again at the millionth wedding this year of two people who were 'mint to be'.

     I had not found my mate yet, even though I am 23 years old. Many find them in high school or even college, but not me, not yet. I always had a hopeful heart that I would find him soon. I always had the hope that maybe when I was out grocery shopping or out with Olivia and Luciano I would find him, but nothing. The latests that anyone on record has found their mate was at 35 so I had about 12 years left before I am an old crone. Those who had mates but died before they ever met knew what was happening, but fate was kind and gave them a second chance at love. But to me, Mine was not dead, he was alive and yet I couldn't seem to find him anywhere. Knocked out of my own trance, I came back the the reality in front of me.

    We all stayed standing up as the groom walks in takes his place and talks to his best man and Luciano. Then the piano keys start to play and there is a silence that overtakes the crowd. I look back and there she was, the bride all in white, veil covering her face walking down the aisle next to what I can presume is her father. The groom could not take his eyes off of her as they sparkled like a little kid getting a puppy for Christmas. If this is what it looks like to be so deeply and madly in love with someone you know loves you back, your other half and the one that completes you, then I think I can wait till 35.

    Even though my heart was filling with hope, tears formed in my eyes and I looked down and not directly at the couple. It felt as if they were mocking me, shoving their undeniable pure love in my face. As if they knew that I was still without my other half. Instead I kept my eyes on Luciano giving him thumbs up every now and then when he seemed to be nervous. Soon enough the wedding was coming to an end, they said their vows, their "I do's" and shared a deep kiss after the ceremony was finalized. I looked away as all I felt was anger pilling up in me allowing for bitter Adeline to surface a little when all was done. The Priest announced the couple.

    "Everyone welcome for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Raven." They turned around and right as I lifted my gaze to give a small smile and clap for the happy couple, my eyes lock with another pair. Honey like hazel eyes stared me down when it felt like hours when it was only seconds. I felt warmth, comfort and complete love. It felt as if I was stumbling around my whole life in the dark touching walls to try and find my way through to the next part, but  here he was my light shining so bright in my eyes finally showing me my the path I had longed for eternity. The small smile became a great big one and but then I heard clapping and cheering and a chanting of a name, not mine, not ours but theirs. And that is when my smile fell off my lips and I broke eye contact with him, with my soulmate. Tears pooling at my eyes, not allowing them to roll down my cheek and holding in the howl of pain I was feeling.