The clocks. We all have them, counting down to the day we meet our soulmate. There always running, imbedded in your wrist, counting down to the fateful day. They're how my mum met my dad, how my grandma met my grandpa, and how my sister met Margret. Most people's timers work, but some don't, like my aunts, whose clock started at 0.00.00. Now it's cracked and black like her soul. I can tell my clock is working, as I see the numbers counting down right now. Today's the day. The day I meet him or her.
I'm only 18, and I don't feel ready. I'm nervous, glancing at my wrist every minute or so. I'm at the mall with my friends and my clock reads
0D, 1H,7M,29S. This terrifies me. Only an hour. I had dressed nicer than usual, my good jeans, and a fancy lace shirt and flats. I'd curled my normally frizzy purple hair and put some makeup on. None of my friends knew that today was the day. My best friend Laura had already met her soulmate. Todd from Norfolk. Henry, my other best friend, had met Jenna, who was with us today. I glanced down again
0d,0h,59m,16s. My heart starts to beat fast and I pull my sleeve over the timer.
I try to forget and have a good time with my friends, but the whole time I'm stressing. What if they're disappointed? What if they dislike me? What if I don't like them? What if they're abusive or something? There was a constant loop of doubt running in my head. We eat lunch, and I glance down again.
0d,0h,30m,49s.
"Guys!" I call after my friends, who look back."uhm, so my timer thing, uhm, yeah. That's almost up." I say. Laura squeals and bounces up and down while Henry and Jenna just smile. My stomach does backflips as Laura drags us through about 30 stores. I glance down.
0d,0h,3m, 17s.
"Hey Laura, I'm going to head to hot topic for a bit" I leave and walk down the mall and into the store. I glance at my wrist once more
0d,0h,1m,6s.
My stomach does several 180's as I walked over to the t-shirt rack. I pull a cute blue T-shirt off the rack and examine it, not really thinking, just counting down in my mind. 45 seconds left. I put the t-shirt back on the rack and move on to a purple one. 30 seconds. This t-shirt isn't my style, and I put it back. 15 seconds. I walk over to the Harry Potter section. 5 seconds. I close my eyes. 3,2,1. I feel a pair of arms wrap around me.
I open my eyes. The boy hugging me is ...beautiful. He has ice white hair with silver streaks running through it and olive skin. He looks almost Indian. He lets go and looks at me. Then I see his eyes. Frost blue, big and beautiful. And the best part is that they were looking directly at me, full of love and compassion. It's my turn to hug him now. I throw my arms around him and feel him wrap his around me.
"My names Lee. Lee Palmer." He whispers in my ear, voice not to deep and not to high.
"I'm Ivy. Ivy Brown." I whisper back, tears welling in my eyes. All the worry was gone, and I was filled with joy. Tears stream down my face, not from sadness but from joy.
All the worry is finally gone, the long wait done. I have Lee. I have my soulmate. I look down at my wrist. 0d,0h,0m,0s. The clock has stopped. The wait is over. I'm happy once again.
