SoulMates; How True Love Tears Apart.

Grace's Story

     I've been dreading this moment forever. 

     6:38, 6:37, 6:36

     I hurry down the street, covering the timer on my wrist. 

     6:25, 6:24, 6:23

     I was supposed to meet my soulmate. Everyone told me I should look forward to this moment. My best friend already met her soulmate, and she told me it was the best day of her life. But the thought terrified me.

     Am I broken?

     6:02, 6:01, 6:00

     With each second that passed, my heart beats louder. Panic filled me, anxious for the clock to tick down, to get it over with.

     5:46, 5:45, 5:43

     I've never experienced attraction before. I've always labeled myself aromantic. Everyone told me not to be silly, that I would eventually love someone. But I've always dismissed them. But the clock on my wrist said otherwise. I had a soulmate. 

     5:31, 5:30, 5:29

     I've cried myself to sleep before over that watch. I've tried to break it, it's declining numbers taunting me. Telling me that I was broken. That there was someone I was supposed to love with all of my heart. But I couldn't. I've never fallen for anyone before.

     Feeling trapped, I turned into the nearest shop. The cool air was a relief from the summer air. It was a small antique shop, one that smelt like dusty books. Knick-knacks of all shapes and sizes were scattered across the room. Dressers, coat racks, mirrors, hairbrushes, and a whole lot more filled up the tiny business. I've always taken comfort in them, but today even the little shop couldn't stop my beating heart.

     "Nervous?" My head shot up. The owner of a shop, a little old lady offered me a cup of water.

     I took the water silently and quickly downed the cup. "Yeah. You could say that." I let out a small laugh, one that was fueled rather from stress than humor.

     She offered me a warm smile. "You seem stressed. Soulmate?" She asked.

     I hesitantly nodded. I let out a weak "Yeah."

     "Young folks like you often meet their soulmate. I met mine when I was only seventeen." She trailed off, recalling that time. "How old are you?"

     "I'm twenty-two." I looked back down at my wrist again.

     2:13, 2:12, 2:11

     Panic filled me again, and I felt trapped once more. "I need to go." I got back onto my feet and handed her the cup back. "Thanks." She smiled at me, which did little to reassure me. I walked back outside and didn't dare to look at my wrist again. A reminder in a few minutes, my identity would crumble. I felt tears come to my eyes, but I fought them back.

     I hurried down the street, walking faster as if to walk away from the present. I dared another look at my clock.

     0:57, 0:56, 0:55

     I instantly regretted that. In less than a minute, I would meet my soulmate. For the first time, I let my thoughts wander to how they'd react to me. Would they be disappointed that I couldn't love them? Would they not like the way I look? I paused at a store window, hastily judging my outfit. My sundress looked okay, and my flats were decent. My natural hair didn't seem any different than normal, and my makeup was pretty good. 

     I sneaked another look at my wrist.

     0:17, 0:16, 0:15

     I continued walking, hurrying by the second. I didn't need to look at my watch, I was counting down in my head.

     0:10, 0:09, 0:08

     I braced myself for the moment and closed my eyes in anticipation.

    0:04, 0:03, 0:02

     As I finished counting down, I tripped. I opened one eye, then another, and saw that it was a box that had "Free Puppies!" hastily written on the side. I looked inside and saw a sleeping German Shepard puppy. I grabbed it, cradled it in my arms, and took my soulmate home.

[Author's Note]

[Hey Guys! So I was thinking of writing a series of short stories of how Soulmate AUs can mess with people's lives, and cause destruction rather than a happily ever after. I imagine for them to be mostly a bit longer than this, but not very long. I may write a longer one, but short stories are easier for me to write than a long, drawn-out one. If you guys have any soulmate AUs you like, please tell me! So I can screw them up and create unhappy people in happy AUs! :)]