The One

The bumpy ride of life.

Everything Tom assumed he knew about love, from his first schoolboy crush on Britney Spears to Sally, the only woman he ever asked to marry him, was wrong. What he felt for them, plus the numerous other girlfriends he dated over the year, was nothing compared to how he felt when he was in the presence of Tord.

Tom's life might have been enviable to some. He lived with a woman he adored, in an apartment with ever growing equity and had a job he loved which was compatible with his creative ability. He had friends he enjoyed spending time with and parents and a brother who, although he didn't see them too often, stayed in regular contact and were supportive of him. All in all, there was much to be grateful for.

It was only now, with Tord hovering in the periphery of his life... though arguably, also in the very center of it.. that he knew he simply been content. And with each moment spent in Tord's company, Tom was aware that contentment was no longer enough to satisfy him.

In the days and weeks that followed their first meeting, their friendship escalated and they found each other's company intoxicating. They grabbed every available opportunity to spend time together, from meeting for lunch to walking with each other to the tram station after work. They chatted like old friends about their school days, spent on opposite sides of the world and the ambitions they had yet to fulfill. And at times, it was simply enough just to be with each other without needing to say a word.

Tord spoke candidly about his father's battle with dementia and how his medication was keeping him on an even keel. However, his mother had warned it was a temporary measure and it wouldn't be long before they lose him to the disease. And that was the very reason that their relationship was destined to remain temporary, because Tord's and his girlfriend's flights to Norway were booked for six weeks' time.

Along with their girlfriends, Tord's imminent departure was the second subject the two didn't refer to often. Each time the elephant tried to barge its way back into the room, they fix another padlock to the door. And both of them could feel the hinges creaking under the elephant's weight.

"What the hell? How can you suddenly be a gay?" Lou exclaimed.
"I'm not."
"Well, bisexual then."
"Again, I'm not and that's the point, and that's why my head is screwed." Tom sighed and held his face in his hands as Lou opened the top off yet another bottle of beer and handed it to him. "You can't tell Samara any of this by the way. You know what she's like. She'll be straight on to Sally and I'm not ready to have that conversation yet."
"Of course I won't," Lou reassures him. "I don't tell her everything. But when you say 'yet' do you mean you're thinking of leaving Sal?"
"What? No, of course not. We're getting married in a few months. How can I?"
"Mate, you can't really marry her if your heart isn't in it. You two won't stand a cat in hell's chance."
"But it is. I swear to God, I love that girl. It's just that what Tord and I have is... different."
"Different how?"
"You must know what I mean... you and Samara have been Matched, haven't you?"
Lou nodded, though there was something in his expression that didn't reach his eyes.

"It's that feeling you don't get when you're around anyone else, like nobody in the world matters when you're in their company. Like you and them are this one, solitary... thing... And no matter what crap the world throws at you, you can get through it because you have them on your side." Tom took a long swig from his bottle and placed it on a coaster on the table.

"You're stuck in a shit storm, dude," Lou said. "I don't know why you're fighting it though. If he's your Match, don't you owe it to yourself to follow it through?"
"I don't wanna cheat on my girlfriend."
"You already are, mate. And it's not as bad a thing as you're making out. Sometimes you've got to put yourself first and go with the flow. You know she would do the same if she found her Match."
"You think?"
"Of course. It's ingrained in everyone, isn't it? Everyone wants to cheat, but it's whether you've got a good enough reason to do it."

Tom often suspected his friend hadn't always been the most monogamous of husbands, but he left it at that.
"Anyway. Enough about me. What is it that you wanted to talk to me about? You said you had some news."
"Oh, it can wait until another time."
"No, tell me. I could do with something to take my mind off my own problems," Tom pressed.
"Okay. Well, it turns out I'm going to be a dad. Samara's pregnant."
"Oh, Louay, that's fantastic!" Tom said with a genuine enthusiasm. He leaned across to shake his hand, delighted for his friend.
"How far along is she?"
"She just got past the first three months, and they're all doing great."
"She's expecting twins. Apparently they run in Samara's side of the family."
"That's incredible! I can't wait to see you juggling one dirty nappy, let alone two." Tom joked. "That's no more five-a-side for you, no more getting hammered on a weeknight, no more sneaky spliffs on the balcony when you think she isn't looking."
"Tell me about it. She's already started putting on weight and our sex life has gone to nothing. If this is the future, I'm going to be hammering the hell out of Tinder."
Tom waited for Lou to laugh or indicate he was joking, but he didn't.
"Well it's going to be a hell of an adjustment for the both of you but I'm sure you'll get through it." Tom said.
"I reckon my life's in for a bumpy ride from here on out."
"You're telling me," Tom replied and downed the rest of his beer.