Body Mind & Soul

Chapter 1

My name is Logan. Logan Maxwell.

Remy is my husband of some years, and while I care deeply for him, neither of us operate under any delusions. We both know our marriage is one of convenience.

We met in college, Remy all but begging me to tutor him in second year when he was at risk of failing multiple classes. Initially he agreed to pay me but about a month in he offered an alternative. In exchange for tutoring, he would attend a few functions with me as 'my boyfriend'.

It was initially a temporary arrangement that we decided to keep going. Especially after his popularity spiked after college. You see Remy is an 'influencer'. One of those people who shares their life with the world in exchange for money from advertisers. Naturally, as a part of his life, that occasionally involves me. It means constant pictures of us for his social media. Going on dates, going on holidays, visiting bars, and occasionally to pander to the 'Lomy' fans, something that I enjoy.

Initially I was sceptical. I didn't see the worth in such 'work' but when photos leaked of our small wedding, his following sky rocketed to a point where we're seen as a part of the celebrity elite. Over the years Remy has slowly and carefully cultivated our lives to a point where neither of us really have to work any more. Our lives are one long party at other people's expense.

It's not what I envisioned for myself at this stage of my life but it's kept people from asking awkward questions I don't really have answers for. Living in a society that revolves around the concept of finding and spending the rest of your life with your soulmate is tiring. Since I was a toddler I'd been hounded about this unknown yet somehow inevitable variable in my life.

'Describe what you think your soulmate will look like. Use plenty of adjectives.'

'If the average number of partners before you find your soulmate is 7, which of the below listed people's number of partners would be considered the outlier?'

'Discuss how Shakespeare foreshadowed Romeo and Juliet's doomed relationship.' You were given extra marks if you mentioned how neither of them are mentioned as glowing which means they were unbonded, therefore even if they survived their families' ire, they would still have eventually moved on to their true soulmate one day.

My point is, it's tiresome. Remy is not my soulmate. Neither of us have ever glowed, and given the benefits of our relationship, we are grateful for it.

We are at a smaller bar today. Remy gets quite....affectionate when he's drunk and he's spent about an hour holding onto my hand or arm, and the last twenty minutes peppering my face with kisses. I'm not all that comfortable with overt displays of affection, though I engage for his posts. After all we have to sell our narrative. Tonight though there are no sponsors, no cameras, and I am not in the mood. Desperate for five minutes to myself, I grab his empty glasses and carry them over to the bar.

The bartender smirks as I approach. "You know we have a guy who does that."

"I don't mind." I respond. "Besides it's only a few-"

A strange shiver runs through my body and down my spine. It's uncomfortable and settles into a low hum that leaves my skin feeling strangely warm. I don't like it.

I look to my hand, still grasped around one of the glasses. The bartender's fingers are touched to the back of my hand, having reached to take it from me. His fingers are glowing. My fingers are glowing. I look up. The bartender is glowing. Am I glowing? Why am I glowing?

I'm gripped by a sudden dread. This cannot be happening.