polyamorous

chapter 1

I throw my hair into a messy bun and get dressed and then finish getting ready. This is the day where I get the timer. The timer is something that we get implanted on our skin that counts down until we meet our soulmate. At the age of 14 is when everyone receives one. I have always thought of this day as a child. I was always thinking about something and how it will effect me. I overthink most of the time though, creating insane situations that end up causing death for the whole universe. Insane I know. "Jennifer we have to go!" my mom yells at me from the livingroom down stairs. "Okay!" I yell to her. I look into the mirror, smile, and then walk out of the bathroom turning off the light on my way out. I get stopped half way to the stairs by my brother. "Hey Jen. Good Luck. It's no big deal, you got this." he says as he winks at me. "Thanks Ben" I tell him and smile as I walk away. My brother is 15 so he could remember his timer day like it was yesterday. I bring back rumors in my head about how much it hurts but I try hard to push those memories away. I think of all the positives that will come out of getting the timer though. I will be able to know who my soul mate is, which is the only positive, but it is a massive positive. I finishing walking down the stairs as my mom hangs up the phone. "Let's go Jen." my mother tells me. As we drive to the timer building I stare out the window contemplating everything that people told me about their timer. I try to only remember the positives but still negative thoughts enter my mind. I remember how some peoples timers are blank from the beginning and how you can die from the procedure if the doctors mess it up. People rarely die from the procedure but it could still happen. "Jen, Are you nervous for the procedure?" my mom asks in a caring tone that pushes away the negative thoughts. "Were you?" I ask before I answer. "Well I was nervous which is expected, but I was more excited. The thrill of knowing how my soulmate took over the fear." I look at her wrist were the timer is placed and on it it says "MARRIED" in big, bolded capital letters. "How many days did it say until you found your soulmate? I ask. "984 days, 13 hours, and 27 minutes and then it started counting down." she tells me keeping her eyes on the road as she drives. "Wow. That's a long wait!" I tell her letting out a little laugh with it. "It actually went by pretty fast Jen. You have to try to savor every moment you get because it doesn't last long" She says almost having a sad and sour look on her face. The conversation ended with with awkward silence as we pull into the gigantic parking lot if the timer department. The parking lot is full of cars. We manage to find a parking spot after 40 minutes of searching in the back row a mile from the building. The glass building sparkles from the sun and tons of people my age with their parents pack into the building. My mom and I begin the mile walk to the building from the back of the parking lot. It is a good 65º F out today with no wind which makes for a pretty pleasant walk. Winter is approaching faster than I want it to. When we finally reach the door and walk into the huge glass building people are shuffling arounds trying to find a place to sit before they get called into a room. A huge knot starts to form in my stomach as I smell the sanitary smell every doctors office and dentist office has. I walk up to the deak to tell the lady my name. I read her name tag it says "SADIE". "Hi. Name please." she asks me. My mouth gets extremely dry as I try to tell her my name. The nervousness is taking over as I finally let out my name "Jennifer Rayes." I am breathing heavily and I start to get extremely hot as Sadie says "Ok Jennifer you can have a seet and a doctor will call you in when they are ready for you." she smiles and I turn around. I find myself barely walking to the chairs. My legs feel like jello and I have a headache. "Are you okay?" my mom asks. "I'm fine." I tell her. I whipe my forehead of sweat as the door opens and a doctor peaks his head out the door. I stare out the ground praying it won't be my name. "Jennifer!" yells the doctor. I stand up holding my tears back which begin to burn my eyes. I walk towards the doctor and he smiles. "Are you ready?" he asks. "I guess." I tell him. "You'll do great!" he says and immediately I remember Ben telling me that and I smile. Before he closing the door I look at my mom and she smiles hugly as me. I smile as the door slowly shuts behind us. When the door clicks shut a nervous pain shoots through me as I start to worry and remember the bad memories come back.