Short Stories

My Silly Soulmate

In my hometown, you are told what your soulmate's last words are at the age of eighteen....

Today's my eighteenth birthday, and I am unsure about how I feel. I'm excited, but I can feel butterflies flying around in my stomach. I don't know what to expect. I'll be searching for this person for the rest of my life. 

After putting on my day to day makeup, a long sleeved tee shirt, and a swipe of my pink lip gloss, I decide I'm ready. I head downstairs and go into the kitchen, where I find a sticky note and a letter addressed to my name. I peel the note off of the table. It reads: 

Gone to the grocery store. 

Your letter finally came! 

Love, Mom

I grab the letter with such ferocity that I nearly rip my arm out of its socket. The envelope is ripped to shreds by the time I can see the words written on the paper. I sink down onto the leather stools next to the island and read what the words say. 

"Who knew I could ever love someone as much as you?" is all it says. 

I begin to cry, knowing exactly who these words will be spoken by. I text my boyfriend Tyler and tell him that I know we are supposed to be together. He texts back, Happy Birthday Love! I'm so glad! 

The rest of my day is spent with Tyler. He takes me out to a big fancy dinner later that night, and then to the big park across the street from his house. The gazebo is covered in bright fairy lights and desserts. 

Before I have time to process anything, he sits me down in one of the chairs and gets down on one knee. 

"Sarah, you have made my life so special. We've only been together for three years, but those have been the best years of my life. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love you so very much. Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" 

I squeal, jump out of my seat, and kiss him. 

"Is that a yes?" he asks me jokingly. I nod and he twirls me around in my arms. We spend the rest of the evening together in the park, taking pictures with each other and having fun. I couldn't ask for a better birthday. 

Later that night, he drives me back to my house. I give him a kiss on his cheek then head inside my house, stopping to blow a kiss before I close the door. 

I was just about to wave out the window to tell him that I am safe when I hear a crunch. The hair stands up on my arms and I squeak when I see the pickup truck flipped over his car. 

I call 911 and then run, sobbing to where the flipped car is. The pickup that hit him is nowhere to be seen. 

As I hold Tyler's dying body in my arms, I cry and let the tears overtake my body. He looks at me with such sadness that I feel like I'm the one dying.  

"Y-you mean the w-world to me," he whispers, and then the strength in him goes out. His eyes glaze over and the blood coming out of his head seems to become less and less. 

I back away slowly, crying harder than ever before. 

Who knew I could ever love someone as much as you?  was all I could think as I collapsed in the middle of the street.