Soulmates - The Last Line

The Accident

Ketchup. The first thing that greeted her when she regained consciousness was the fluffy fur of her loyal companion, who was now meowing next to the shower door trying to get her to wake up. Yong took a deep breath, turned her head, and stared at the bathroom tiles. She had to have known. Things like this don't happen to people like her. She lost her brother again, and with him, the will to live. She knew she'd never see her parents as a family again, and she'd never get to sleep in Moonbyul's arms. For some unexplainable reason, the last statement hurt the most. She didn't even realize she had started crying again. She felt so cold...on the inside. All of a sudden, everything got blurry - the bathroom, the tiles, the kitten, and everything in between.

How does one come to accept that the life they wanted was within their grasp for a few fleeting moments and then it was lost forever? It wasn't fair. She could have had it all. The other Yong was going to have it all. Was this how it worked? They switched places? Was Yong going to wake up today and get a visit from her new girlfriend? Would she remember her? This was all so wrong. Was Yong 1.0 also in love with Byul? How would that work? Having lived as the "better version ™" of herself for a few weeks, completely changed her life's perspective. She hated this apartment, she hated her job, she hated her life... What was she even doing here...?

She wiped her eyes and stood up carefully.

" Ketchup... Did u miss me?" the kitten came to cuddle with her immediately which made her sob even more.

Sitting on her couch, a few minutes later, wrapped in a fluffy familiar bathrobe, she had to rethink everything and try to separate her current life from her "fictional" alt universe one. She was still working at the marketing company. Her parents were still divorced, and she was still depressed. She had her friends who loved her though, so that was good. Things could still be fine. Right?

Scrolling through her phone, she noticed that she hadn't texted anybody while she was gone. No messages from her boss, her friends, or her family. That was odd. Did she really switch places with Yong 1.0, and if she did, why didn't the other Yong live her life? She was gone for at least 3 weeks if not more. Didn't anyone care enough to at least give her a call? Looking at the date on her phone made her blood freeze. It was Thursday. The day after she "teleported". No time had passed?! How was this possible? So she didn't switch places with anybody? In her timeline, it was like no time had passed at all. What was going on?!

She jumped from the couch and turned on the tv, landing on the News channel. Only one day had passed. Her brain couldn't comprehend what had happened. So she went to the therapist and had her session, then ...? She looked at Ketchup and tilted her head in confusion. How did she get home? Did someone drive her back? Did she come home by herself?! How was that possible?

Opening her chat application, she texted her friends. Someone needed to know about this madness.

****

" You... teleported ... to an alternative universe? " - said Hwasa taking a pause after every word, then looked at Wheein for a brief moment and nodded her head - " whoa, Unnie, that's wild..." - she said and engulfed a piece of strawberry swiss roll.

" I have no idea what happened. I decided to give this woman, therapist... expert, a chance and went to her office. We talked about soulmates. She said she'd do the session and the next thing I know I was waking up in a place where Jaewon was waiting for me and we lived in the same apartment, he was a bit older, and I was working at a magazine, as a photographer and I was still friends with you, but you guys were engaged...

The two girls exchanged a look and then blushed profusely.

" I... I met someone, and now she's gone ... 'cause I woke up in my own bed today. Here, on my bed. This bed, in this apartment. How did I get here? In this universe, I mean? The last thing I did was the regression session in that woman's office, in a building, in the center of the city. Miles away. How did I get home, in my own bed? Did any of you guys pick me up?"