Soulmates & Haphephobia

Chapter one

There are some things in life that are calculated decisions, with minimal risk factor. We learn to decide our fate and measure our choices based on odds and our experience. I'm not opposed to fun or chances at a general glance, but. I'm not stupid either.

So. Stupid.
I couldn't help but think.
I hate to be a debby-downer, but these reality game shows are getting out of hand. Yet of course, I never turn off the T.V.

Rachel, the bleach blonde valley girl, just found out that Ryan, the jock, was lying to her this entire time; they're not soulmates.
Ryan branded his own skin to copy Rachel's birthmark on her forearm, just to get her to go out with him.
Duh dun dun- of course here comes the "private" interviews and flash backs to earlier episodes as the music swells because it's just so unimaginable that someone would lie and fake being a soulmate.
I'm utterly surprised: I can feel my eyes rolling out of my skull at this point.
I, like many others learned that people lie all the time. Sometimes it astounds me how even after high school people are this gullible.

I finally turn my T.V off once the host announces that Souls on an Island will return next week with more shocking twists and turns.

"I thought you hated that stuff"
Ash, my roommate, says from the dinning table with her mouth full of cereal.

"I do, but I think we're all mature enough to admit that it's addicting" I say while going for the kitchen pantry.

"C'mon. Just admit there's a piece of you that wishes you could find your soulmate" she states with a blunt tone and a roll of her eyes.

"Some people find that, like you and Hunt, but there are plenty of happy couples who didn't end up with their soulmate. For all we know, my soulmate could be one of those people. Or, he could live on the other side of the world"  I say while pouring my own bowl of cereal

"-or dead." she adds

"See you get it"

Unfortunately, our world is obsessed with finding a soulmate. I wish we weren't built this way.
We're taught as kids to appreciate our unique marks, bodies, or features no matter how embarrassing they are or how bullied we may be. We're constantly reminded that our soulmate will match us identically in one unique way. That's how you know you've met them.
Soon, they'll begin to feel exactly what you feel and you both will become universally interlinked. All it takes is a single touch for your souls  to connect.

The problem with this, is that as humans, we continually take something that can be fundamentally beautiful, and we traumatize it.
People lie constantly to trick others into thinking they found their soulmate. Sometimes, soulmates breakup. Sometimes, people don't even look for fear that it would all go down the drain anyways.

Ash has always been a firm believer in the beauty of soulmates. Then again, she met her's at the age of eleven. Hunter, her now fiancée, was there to help her up when she tripped in the school corridor. Within the week, Hunter's blonde hair turned scarlet red to match Ash' head of fire. The pair have been inseparable since.
I am of course thrilled for the pair. The two fit each other like puzzle pieces.

It's hard to deny the concept of a soulmate. Hair, eyes, freckles, birthmarks, physical attributes completely change when souls connect. I've seen Hunter cry just because Ash cried, and they were in completely separate rooms, I can see a clear connection. However it would be far easier to dismiss the function as a whole. There is much more to this world, to this life, than finding your soulmate. Sadly, very few people look outside the box.