Soulmate

Chapter 19: Game Over

Grace

    Sunday. Sunday. Sunday. The worst day of the week. I can't leave; I have to stay here. It's family day, so I'm forced to spend time with my parents, but I would prefer to stay in my bed all day. It would be nice to have one day to myself, one day where I could lay down and sleep. I wouldn't even have to sleep, just relax. Even if I was able to relax, I'd get bored and I'd want to have my soulmate to keep me company.

    It'd be nice to have my soulmate around for Sundays, so I didn't have to be all alone. I hate idly sitting, but if I had someone with me, then we could be talking, watching a movie, or playing a game on my tablet. Having someone who actually wanted to be around me would be amazing; someone who didn't feel obligated to be around me. But I suppose he would feel like he had to because the society has told him we're meant to be together. Testing says he has to love me.

    Sometimes I wished I had a sibling, so I could just hangout with him or her. They'd be able to sit in bed with me and watch movies, or they'd bother me to play games. They'd probably annoy me and drive me crazy, but at this moment, I wanted that. I wanted a younger sibling to jump on my bed, scream at me to get up, get up, get up! Someone I could spend my Sunday with, so it wasn't only me with my parents.

    We don't go to church, but I've heard that a few families still do. It's not normal and people have given up on the whole religion subject. Religion has been changed too much from the old ways. My mother doesn't like the way it has changed and my dad's family never cared too much about it, so the whole subject didn't matter to him. Instead of going to church, we had our family day. We had to have our special dinner together and wash the dishes.

    The thought of my already planned out day made me want to stay in bed even more. Too bad the day had started, and all I could do was stare at my parents' unhappy faces. We'll make idle chitchat, but they won't remember anything I tell them. Maybe we'll talk about graduation, but we don't care. We'll have the same conversation next week at dinner.

    The blanket around me was warm and it begged me to stay in its comfort for another hour. I knew it wasn't possible because my mom would come running up the stairs at any minute to wake me up. Then, she'll probably prepare some kind of healthy breakfast, or nothing at all, and try to distract me, so I don't eat. I wasn't looking forward to it.

    But I never looked forward to it. When I let out a groan, I stretched my arms over my head, and finally dragged myself out of bed. I stripped out of my clothes, put them into the hamper, and threw on some plain clothes. Quickly, I ran a brush through my hair and then I walked down the stairs, dragging my feet. If I could avoid this day every week, then I would.

    When I walked into the kitchen, I saw my mom with her yogurt and granola. "Good morning, Grace. Here, let me get you some breakfast," she insisted, trying to smile at me. She went to the fridge to grab one of her yogurts and she threw some granola in it even though I didn't want it, or even reply to her.

    "Thanks," I grumbled when she handed it to me and then I sat down at the table while she stayed at the island in the kitchen. I stirred it around with my spoon and took a small bite of it. There wasn't anything wrong with yogurt, sometimes I liked it, and other times the texture made me gag. It was better with granola in it, but I would rather have scrambled eggs and toast. I'd even settle for a granola bar.

    My dad came in the room with his jeans and a t-shirt, it was rare that he was dressed so casually, but it was also rare I ever saw him at all. He didn't acknowledge me as he walked to the fridge. After they got married, he adopted my mom's healthy eating habits, so he grabbed a yogurt as well and stood next to her to eat. I rolled my eyes; they were too perfect for each other.