Lee sat in the dimly lit tattoo parlor, his heart racing. The needle buzzed against his skin, tracing the delicate script that would forever bind him to his soulmate. The words were simple yet profound: "Are you okay?"
He remembered that moment—the crowded subway, the chaos of rush hour, and the way their eyes had locked. Maren, with her wild curls and eyes like storm clouds, had reached out to steady him as the train jolted. Her voice, soft and concerned, had cut through the noise.
"Are you okay?"
Lee had fallen in love right then and there. But fate had other plans. Maren disappeared into the crowd, leaving him with nothing but those words imprinted on his heart.
Now, years later, he sat in the tattoo artist's chair, reliving that moment. The needle dug into his skin, and he clenched his fists. The pain was nothing compared to the ache of longing.
Maren had her own tattoo appointment across town. She'd chosen the same phrase, unaware that it was etched on Lee's skin too. They were connected, bound by destiny, yet separated by circumstance.
As the tattoo artist finished, Lee examined the ink on his wrist. The words stood out starkly against his pale skin. He wondered if Maren felt the same sting, the same pull of fate.
Maren sat in the cozy studio, her pulse fluttering. The tattoo artist—a burly woman with a gentle touch—worked meticulously. The words she was inscribing held a lifetime of meaning: "Are you okay?"
She remembered that day—the crowded subway, the way Lee's eyes had widened when she spoke. His gratitude had been palpable, and she'd felt a connection—an inexplicable bond that defied logic.
"Are you okay?"
Maren had replayed that moment in her mind a thousand times. But Lee had vanished, swallowed by the crowd. She'd searched for him, haunted by the memory of his eyes, the warmth of his hand against hers.
Now, as the tattoo needle danced across her skin, she wondered if he remembered. If he carried their shared words like a secret. If he felt the same magnetic pull.
When the artist finished, Maren studied the ink on her wrist. The letters were elegant, permanent. She imagined Lee with the same words—their souls forever linked.
Lee stood outside the coffee shop, heart pounding. He'd heard about a girl with the same tattoo—the girl who'd asked if he was okay. Could it be her? Could fate finally reunite them?
Maren stepped out, her eyes scanning the crowd. When she saw him, recognition dawned. The years melted away, leaving only the raw ache of longing.
"Lee," she whispered, reaching for him.
He pulled her close, their tattoos touching. The words glowed, a promise fulfilled. And as their lips met, Lee knew—he'd found his soulmate, bones and all.
