There they were again.
In very scribbled, big handwriting, a word was spelled. It was disappointment this time. It would change from time to time but they were very hurtful. 'Dumb', 'can't do basic things', 'ugly', 'stupid', 'attention seeking', and 'useless' were also there.
It was written on his arms. The writing on the right arm more scribbled then the left. He looked down to see that there was indeed writing on his chest too. Even further down, on his thighs, there were yet more words of anger and frustration. He could see the writing being written on his skin.
The first time this happened he thought that his brother was just pulling a prank on him. In reality, it was something that no one seemed to understand. As he looked down at his arm to find the hurtful words and hidden scars, he grew closer to this mysterious person he was tethered to.
He once tried to contact them but the person never answered or didn't notice. He wish so bad that he could help this poor person.
On a day where he didn't notice any scars, written or inflicted, he thought the person was finally getting better. This slight calmness was overruled by a sense of danger.
He felt that something was going to happen. Something bad. He kept looking at his arm and decided to try and write again.
In slow small print, he wrote 'Hey I was wondering if you're fine.'
He glanced at his arm every minute he could. No response came. He decided to write again.
"I hope that you stay safe."
He tried to not check his arm for the rest of the day. When he felt a huge wave of relief, he checked his arm to see that his messages were not answered. He wasn't disappointed now, because he felt like they had read them.
After that day, the messages on his arm were just things written in some type of code with highlighter.
He had almost forgotten the writing on his arm when he looked down to see that a little tattoo like writing was on his right wrist. It said Best Friends, with friends written like it was reflected in a mirror.
He smiled at the little writing. To him this meant that the person was doing great. He continued his normal day until he noticed a girl at his church had this very same writing on her right wrist. He walked up to her and said hi.
She turned around excitedly, "Hello Jackie."
"That's a cool writing on your wrist." He commented.
She looked down at her wrist at surprise. "Oh! My friend and I did these because we thought it would be cute."
He looked at this girl and realized that he never truly saw her arms when he had writing all over his. He grabbed a pin and began to write on his arm.
"I think I found you."
The same thing appeared on her arm. She looked down in surprise.
"When did that get there?" She exclaimed.
He just smiled at her. "Just now. I think we have a lot to talk about." He answered truthfully.
She looked up at him puzzled until she saw his arm. Then she began to giggle. "When did you become my soul mate?" She asked through her giggles.
He looked at her confused. "What do you mean?"
She looked up at him. "Soulmates can see when the other is writing on themselves or is hurting themselves. It's not well known and is extremely rare." She explained.
He shook his head. She was his soulmate. He was hers.
She continued, "Soulmates doesn't mean love interests. Sometimes they mean friends. Like I had a countdown on my wrist for when I would meet my bestie because she was my soulmate."
This eased his mind. But he had to admit that he wouldn't mind the idea of a romantic relationship. Maybe someday.
But for now they are there for each other. They share secrets and have jokes. They laugh and cry comfortably around one other. Romance could bloom.
But for now they are soulmates with no idea that they needed each other so bad.
