Fairytale • Robby Keene

twenty six

When a person is born into this world, they enter a space where love is present, first and foremost, from their parents. This love is a basic instinct, one that nurtures the child and teaches them how to give and receive love. As they grow, they learn that love is not just an emotion but a force that connects them to others, and it is this force that plays a crucial role when they begin to seek out a significant other.

The search for a soulmate is a natural progression in the journey of love. A soulmate is often described as someone with whom one shares an unexplainable, deep connection, someone whose temperament aligns perfectly with their own. It is said that these connections transcend simple compatibility—they are profound and almost destined. In the context of a soulmate, the qualities that are most important to look for are love, acceptance, and patience. These qualities form the foundation upon which a lasting, meaningful relationship can thrive.

When a person finds their soulmate, it is more than just an emotional high; it is the realization that they have found someone who not only mirrors their own heart but can also help them grow. Relationships with soulmates are often marked by their ability to overcome obstacles together, showing how love, acceptance, and patience are tested and ultimately strengthened through time. When two people are truly in love, these qualities can flow effortlessly.

Challenges will still arise, but the strength of the bond will make it easier to navigate through them.

Odette's heart raced as she stepped into the Detention Centre, her nerves almost getting the best of her. She had been here before, but today felt different. The air was thick with anticipation, and despite her determination, there was an underlying anxiety that gnawed at her. She wasn't here because she had to be; she was here because she needed to be. Robby was all that mattered, and she would do whatever it took to see him.

Her outfit—a blue blouse and ripped shorts, topped with a black jacket blazer and brown ankle boots—felt like a small rebellion against the sterile, oppressive walls of the Detention Centre. It was her way of holding onto her sense of self, her personality, in the face of a world that seemed determined to strip everything away.

She approached the receptionist, a familiar face who had already warned her once about the rules of visitation.

"I'm here to see Robby Keene." Odette stated, her voice firm, but laced with the desperation she couldn't hide.

The receptionist looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Didn't I tell you, you need to call before visiting an inmate?"

Odette exhaled sharply, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Yes, but please let me see him. You have no idea how much he means to me."

The receptionist, perhaps sensing the raw emotion in her voice, paused. She observed Odette for a moment, taking in the teenager's pleading expression. There was something in her determination that softened the older woman's stance.