What her heart desires

Chapter 5

The aged book, weathered by time, reveals its antiquity through the worn cover and the frayed corners of its pages. Each fold, tear, and crease bore witness to the passage of years. The words on the paper are so delicately crafted, written in perfect cursive writing that sometimes can be hard to understand. The ink has faded slightly, but not so much that it's hard to make out.

As Josie immerses herself in the book, the mist of uncertainty surrounding her begins to dissipate. Although it is written in English that she's not used to and is rather descriptive, she can still understand its key points. She knows now that this book holds the answers or at least some of them. With bated breath, she prays that these answers would bring her solace, even if only in small measure.

Forces beyond mortal comprehension conspire to unite these kindred spirits, crafting memories and forging a bond so deep that it defies conventional understanding. It's written in the stars, and the two souls are brought together. A relationship blossoms, into something beautiful and profound and far beyond the understanding of most people. A connection will form that goes beyond the normal, that is literally etched into their skin, never to be undone.

This soulmark, a mystical and enigmatic bond forged by the hand of destiny, defies logical explanation. It exists beyond the boundaries of causality, appearing seemingly out of thin air, predetermined even before a person's birth.

The two souls form a relationship, unique to the two of them. Time passes and emotions build, running deep below the surface, flowing through blood and mind. They build until one of those people realizes exactly what these emotions are. When they know how strong that love is, only then does the mark appear. And from then, nothing is the same.

This connection is often mutual, but there are instances when unrequited love has prevailed, leaving the future uncertain for the forsaken lover, doomed to endure aching solitude and heartbreak. Only one thing is known, that they are doomed to love alone.

Given its rarity, many aspects of the phenomenon remained shrouded in mystery, with unanswered questions lingering. Some theorize that telling the object of your affection about the bond is a crucial step in the relationship, irrespective of its mutuality. Others believe it may not matter. Over the years, it has been suggested that not doing so may have dire consequences. Effects that change a life in painful, undesirable ways.

Symptoms may show before the mark even reveals itself. Some of them are obvious and can impact one's everyday life. They affect actions and thoughts. Then there is the subtler ones. These may go entirely unnoticed but can change everything. They may differ from person to person, but some stay the same. Once a mark is received, once feelings are accepted, those symptoms only get stronger.

Josie has learned a few things from reading the book:

1) She's probably had signs of it for years.

2) She's going to be forever alone.

3) She's likely to suffer some awful side effects.

and 4) The universe fucking sucks.

It feels like she has learned a lot, but also nothing at all. Sure, she knows more than she did before, but there are still so many blanks that haven't been filled. So many things she still needs to know. For example, what are the negative side effects? How bad are they? What are these symptoms the book speaks of? How have they manifested in her own life?

She grabs one of the other books, but it says nothing of this soulmark or the bond it comes with. She checks another, but they are all newer, and far better looked after. And there's nothing. No information, no explanations beyond what she already has.

Her life has been turned upside down and she has no way of knowing what will happen, and what this could mean for her future. Does she still have one?

Perhaps this mark is a curse, because if nothing else it is a reminder of feelings that she can't avoid, no matter how long she's spent trying.