Challenge Accepted

Writing prompt 3 (soulmate sighting)

I barely knew anything about the whole meeting my soulmate when I turn 18 thing, nor did I think my parents were overprotective. My whole life I had thought that my parents were that careless not to remember my birthday. I never knew my age. I was left guessing.

My parents often told me to never go outside, that the world was scary and full of dangerous people. You know, that old cliché that overprotective parents tell their kids in those movies. I would often sneak out into the garden though, and I became friends with our neighbor's daughter - Calida. She and I grew up together, with me sneaking out into the garden to talk to her, or her surprising me by sneaking into my room.

When the time came for me to go to school, my parents made me have homeschool instead of sending me off to a normal one. The lady who tutored me was old, and nice. She had a lot of experience with kids and made learning fun. She educated me about meeting my soulmate when I turn 18, but I told here that I didn't know how old I am or when my birthday was.

She only smiled and said, "then I guess you'll know when you finally meet your soulmate."

Time passed by, and I'm my last year of high school. At least that's what my tutor told me. According to Calida I should meet my soulmate at some point this year, since she says that we're aproximately the same age.

"Gosh! I'm so excited for you!" She giggled, playing with my big stuffed teddy bear as she lie down on my bed and I sit down on my carpeted floor.

"What for?" I ask, carefully embroidering flowers into the fabric in my embroidery hoop.

"Well, you'll be meeting your soulmate soon! I mean, I'm already 18 and I've met mine. I didn't think it would be that... that... that magical..." Calida sighed, before abruptly hugging my teddy bear and squealing.

My lips twitched downwards, "well, aren't you just a bundle of joy," I deadpanned. I felt a twinge of jealousy towards her, wanting to know when my birthday is and when I'll be meeting my soulmate.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't you dare try to get all gloomy on me, missy," she said, bouncing off my bed. She knelt in front of me, palms resting on her bare thighs as she lent forward, squinting at my face and discerning what's wrong with me.

Her bright almond eyes squinted at me. I could almost feel her gaze burning holes into me. The way she furrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips screamed determination in comprehending my current state. Her wild and short auburn hair swayed and bounced on her head as she orbited around me as if I were a rare specimen.

"I got it!" Calida snapped her fingers in my face as she kneeled right in front of me once again. "You're getting impatient from waiting so long for your soulmate! The fact that you don't know when your birthday is makes you antsy and irritated. Aww, my dear Minutte! I'm so sorry for not seeing it sooner," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me.

I blinked, before laughing and hugging her back, careful not to accidentally stab her with my embroidering needle. "No worries, Cali, it's all good... just need to wait a little longer..." I sighed.

I wasn't aware that later that very night I'd have a surprise visit in my room in the form of my soulmate.

It happened late at night. I was being rebellious and was reading a book under my blanket with my flashlight being the only thing illuminating light onto the pages of my book. I kicked my feet up in the air behind me as the story progressed, building up more excitement.

I roll around on my bed, adjusting into a more comfortable postion every once in a while. I had reached the climax of the story, and just when the heroine was about to slay her nemesis-