WOSO Imagines

Soulmates (Lia Wälti)

A couple years back, in a small town in Switzerland, two best friends decided to have a stroll around their town. They come across a very familiar park that they've been going to as kids.

Not far from the girls, are two boys, playing a game of football. Too occupied in their game, they didn't see the two girls, who also weren't paying attention to their surroundings, and ran into them, literally.

The boys quickly get off the ground, dusting themselves off and offering a hand to each lady.

"We are sorry about that." One of the boys said.

"We weren't paying attention." The other saying.

"Oh, it's alright."

"We weren't paying attention ourselves."

This was the start of four friends' unbreakable bond.

Over the years, the four grew up together. If you see one of them, the other three aren't too far behind. Each girl eventually fell in love with one of the boys, same with the boys.

They finished school, got married, moved into houses right next to each other and to no one's surprise, the girls fell pregnant at the same time.

Two girls.

Born within a month of each other.

Two girls who would grow up being best friends. You both would become inseparable. Always attached to the hip.

You started preschool together, eventually going off to kindergarten together.

One day, when you were both ten years old, under the old maple tree in her backyard, two other friends of yours are standing close together, both her hands holding onto yours.

Your parents watch through the kitchen window, wondering what you kids were up to now. To their surprise, they watch as Lia pulled you close, like how she sees her parents do, and gave you a little kiss on the lips, pulling away, wide smiles on both your faces, your two friends clapping and cheering.

Only when the two of you ran inside the house did they understand what happened.

"We got married!" You yelled, while Lia said, "She's my wife!" Referring to you.

The four friends looked at one another in understanding.

They created soulmates.

From then on, Lia would always refer to you as her wife. "Hi, wife." She would often say whenever she sees you, a love struck expression on her face. You would always respond with a kiss on her cheek, caressing the other with your hand.

You both were quite young, but old enough to know what love was, as both your parents were the examples you had to know about what love was.

Unfortunately, on one summer day, your parents had informed you of your move. Having to move away to another country. Away from Lia.

Your twelve year old self immediately ran towards her house, never needing to knock, straight towards her room, where you found her on her bed. She already knew it was you without having to look up, but once she did, she saw tears staining your cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

"Papa said that we're moving away. I don't want to move away."

All Lia could do is hug you tight and not let go.

When the time came, everyone promised that they would communicate and not lose contact of each other. It could be the first time in years that the best friends would no longer be together.

Lia gives you one last kiss and you hope it wouldn't be the last.

You ended up in the United States, telling Lia through letters which you send through the post, Lia doing the same. But as the years go on, the letters eventually stopped when you were fourteen. You cried for a week straight, mourning what could be the ending of a beautiful friendship.

———

You were now thirty years old, who've accomplished so much and made a name for yourself. You became a professor at Stanford, teaching about the wonders of science, becoming quite popular to students.

Lia of course became a force in the world of football. You were never one for sports m, but you aren't ashamed to admit that you've kept up with her career, cheering her on through the television.

It's been sixteen years since your last contact with her, you don't know whether she still remembers you or not, but she was someone you couldn't exactly forget.

You did hear that the Arsenal women's team would be playing a match in Los Angeles, so you asked for a few days off and made your journey all the way down.

You were lucky enough to get tickets close to the field. Watching Lia play in person for the first time was quite the experience. You cheered for her as loud as you could, cringing whenever she was tackled down.

Arsenal ended up wining 1-0 with an assist from Wälti. The team made their rounds around the stadium, thanking as much of their supporters as they can. You stayed in your seat, eyes following her as fans started filtering out, you being one of the last ones still there.

"Hello, Miss." You're snapped out of your thoughts by security.

"Yes?"

"I was informed that I needed to escort you down to the locker room." You didn't really know what was happening, but you did follow him. "Just go right in there." He points to a door.

You walk through the door to be met with the whole team of Arsenal, who quieted down once they saw you. You stand awkwardly in front of everyone as they stare at you.

"Hi, um, did you get lost?" Someone asked.

"Uh, i don't think so? I followed some security person."

"Hi, wife."

You snap your head to the left so fast it could've given you whiplash. You turn you whole body to face her, her standing so close to you. Slowly, you lift your right hand to her cheek, caressing it with your thumb as she nuzzles into it, your lips finding its place on the other, the familiar gesture makes the midfielder starts to tear up.

"I can't believe you remember that."

"How could I forget our wedding under the maple tree?"

"I couldn't tell you."

"You know," Lia began. "I've been waiting for the day I see you again."

"How come?"

"Because I wanna make it real?"

"Make what real?"

"You being my wife."

You and Lia were in your own bubble, completely forgetting about the rest of the team that surrounds you, who has never seen the love struck look on Lia's face until now.

"What's going on?" Caitlin asks, confused as the rest of the team is.

"This is my wife, and we're gonna make sure it is not fake this time."

At this moment, you felt like you were back in Switzerland, under the maple tree in her backyard, Lia by your side.

Two souls who lost their way, back together again.