Divine Complement

1 - Marks

“What exactly is a soul mate, and why exactly do I have to have one?  Most single people are very happy, and don’t have to have an ugly mark to show their love for something.”  I groaned as my mom paid no attention to my little protest and tossed me this pretty thick book.  I picked it up and flipped through the full pages, not even attempting to pay attention to what the words were.

“A soul mate is… your soul mate.  It’s someone who makes you feel extremely happy and you have an immediate, unexplainable connection with them.  It’s like you feel complete and out of place without them.”  I rolled my eyes at my mom’s vague explanation of a soul mate. 

Who even needed a soul mate anyway?  Not to mention, once you did find your soul mate, you naturally got this ugly mark on your skin that indicated they were ‘the one.’  Personally, I didn’t understand how this worked.  It’s complete and utter bullshit.  You don’t have a say in any of it, though.  Your life is practically already planned for you once your soul mate has been discovered.

I am more than ninety-seven percent convinced that my parents were declared soul mates by Satan himself.

I personally do not think that my soul mate will come.  Not that I mind.  I mean, my nineteenth birthday was coming up soon, yet my Prince Charming still never swept me off of my feet.  Or gave me an ugly mark on my skin.  Ha ha, taking love marks to a whole different level.  Except  these were permanent.  Yay for true love!

“Mom, why haven’t you given me this book before?  It seems pretty important since people are, you know, out searching for soul mates.”  My mom sat down at the table and looked me in my eyes.

“Well, my mom gave it to me when I turned twenty.  So, the day after my twentieth, I decided it was time to really step up my game.  She told me about the marks and the important stuff, but then just told me to read the book cover to cover since it was the only way to accurately receive the information.  But, you’re almost nineteen, and people are, I don’t know, connecting with their soul mates quicker than ever before.  Can’t help but be prepared for anything, right?”  Her smile faded, a hint of sadness covered her hazel eyes and I couldn’t help but notice.  I ignored it and gave her a light nod and a smile. 

I realized how much I favored my mom’s features.  I had her hazel eyes and light brown wavy hair.  I also had her high cheekbones, full lips, and tan complexion. I didn’t really look anything like my dad.  I guess the personality gene was where he was more dominant.

There was this one boy I met when I was about sixteen.  I would swear up and down that he was perfect; the one for me.  His appearance was so sharp that it looked like the angels took their sweet, delicate time on him.  His personality was absolutely charming.  That was the only time I have ever wanted that mark to appear on my skin.  But it never did.  And once he found out how weird I was, he left me.  I was left alone to grieve over my loss of Mr. Perfect. 

That was when my sixteen-year-old self realized ‘love’ was completely and utterly pointless, and nonetheless, painful.

I never understood the point of a soul mate.  What if you loved someone even if they didn’t fit the criteria of being your chosen soul mate?  My parents, for example.  How were they even considered soul mates?  What made them fall in love?  What made the marks even appear in the first place?  Maybe it was when they were younger, and less stressed.  And paid attention to what each other had to say.  And actually loved each other.  But hey, love is love, right?

I swiftly went to my room after having that long internal conflict.  I closed my door, simply because I hated it being open.  It felt like someone was either going to spy on me, or murder me.

I tried to read the first few pages of the book when I realized that this was bullshit.  Actually, I think everything is bullshit.

I was totally okay with growing up alone.  I didn’t need a soul mate.  I didn’t need a soul mate to make me happy.  I was just going to grow up with a few dogs, a pleasing job, and call it a satisfied life.

But, no matter how much I obliged, life wanted me to stop being stubborn about this.  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find myself to picture me, happy with a soul mate on my side.

Not unless life suggested that my soul mate was a dog.

I sighed, annoyed as I walked out of my too-comfortable room and found my way into the kitchen.  My parents were mumbling about something until they felt my presence.  My dad looked aggravated and my mom looked like she wanted to wrap her tiny hands around his throat.  Typical, ah love.  Great isn’t it?

“What?” I asked as they both eyed me suspiciously.

“Kid, when was the last time you got a sufficient amount of sleep?  Your bags have bags.  No wonder you haven’t found a soul mate.”  Oh, gee. Thanks Dad.  My mom slapped his shoulder and mentally scolded him.

I pondered his question.  “Er, maybe last Tuesday?”  He put his head in his hands and sighed.  What was his deal?  It was my sleep habits on the line, not his. 

Okay, maybe I wasn’t sleeping, but it was certainly not because I was shopping for a soul mate.  I was just watching sappy romance movies on Netflix.  And enjoying social media.

I tried to convince myself that I wanted a soul mate by watching these movies.  Yet I still couldn’t bring myself to want one.  I knew that all the romance in movies was fake, scripted, and unrealistic.  All love brought was pain and emotions I didn’t want to feel now, or at any moment. 

Ever.

//

So, this is my first story I will be publishing on here.  I hope the story is enjoyable and all that good stuff. 

➳ m.