The String | How I Met My Soulmate[Short Story]

The String

Only my parents heard about it after that.
    The other kids in the kindergarten teased me about it sometimes, but other than that, I lived a pretty normal life.
    I had a lot of friends, but they would always talk about their soulmate in front of me. I usually just laughed it off, or drew a picture, or sometimes just left.
    I've always known I wasn't normal.
    I never once have been.

I was 16 when I started posting my artwork on the internet, and 23 when I met Alex.
    Alex had messaged me, telling me how much he liked my work and asking me to do more.
    After I responded, he freaked out and asked if we could be friends.
    I obviously said yes.
    I saw the message before I heard the ding.
   

Naomi? Are you here?

Always, Alex. Is every
thing okay?

I wanted to tell you
so.thing
*something

Really? I needed to
tell you something too.

Okay. Count of three.
One
Two
Three

I don't have the string

I don't have the string.

    I couldn't believe my eyes.
    One of my best friends, also didn't have the string. I was so happy.
    I felt a tug on my ring finger, and watched red string tie itself to it and unravel out of my window. I looked back at my laptop screen.

I just got the string

Me too!

Hiya soulmate!

    I felt my heart leap in my chest.
    I had a soulmate, a real person I was to spend my life with!
    He could be a pedophile...
    Worst case scenario, I would have to call the police...
    Whatever.

    This was one of the happiest periods of my life. I always thought about him, and we talked forever.
     But, after a while, he stopped answering my texts.

Alex? You there?

Are you okay? Text me

I'm getting worried. Please,
text me.

    One night I heard my phone go off after I got in bed.

Hey, Naomi. Sorry I haven't been
speaking to you lately.

what's wrong?

I have to go overseas for two
years

What? I have to
come visit you!

Unless you can get to the
Edinburgh train station
in less than 24 hours I don't
think that's possible.

I shut my phone off and grabbed my backpack off of the hanger behind my door.
   I ran to the train station and jumped on the train to Scotland.
    It was a fast train, but I didn't know if I'd made it in time.
    I pushed through the crowded station, following the string on my finger. I saw a head of curly shirt hair,  just before a train passed by.
    "ALEX!" I screamed, to make sure he heard me.
    When the train passed, I saw him.
    Curly short brown hair, the brightest blue eyes, and a plain black skirt and white-button up.
    I heard my heartbeat in my ears.
    I jumped across the rails and ran into her arms.
    He hugged for what seemed like forever, until she was almost late.
    One night I felt the string fall off of my finger.
    She never came back.