Chapter 6: A Soulmate

What is taking them so long? It’s been over two weeks since I’ve appeared on Storyteller Planet, and my partner has yet to make an appearance. It’s infuriating. I’m becoming more and more like the fifth wheel by the day. It’s obvious that Prehp and Prahsehss were made for each other. Master stares at Sershah more than the sun shines in the sky or the moon at night. Meanwhile, here I am left waiting for my other half to enter the world. My soulmate. How infuriating.

“A soulmate? What’s that?”

I look back at Sershah lounging in a hammock between two palm trees.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize I spoke aloud,” I say.

“Well, ya did,” Prahsehss pipes up from the water. “And I wanna know what it is.

Their eyes nearly stare holes through my skin as I ponder how to respond. I could be slick and say that they already have theirs, but they will only press me for more details.

“It’s a person,” I start. “One that feels like everything is complete, I guess.”

“How do you know when you’ve met this soulmate person?” Prahsehss asks.

I shrug, looking towards the horizon. “You just feel it. It must feel different for everyone, I’m sure. But for me, it’s like the weight on my chest lifts, and I feel like the wait is over. It’s like everything finally makes sense.”

The silence of the beach is deafening. Not even the waves of Breather Beach seem to make a sound. I glance down at Prahsehss, her head tilted and eyes shining.

Sershah’s eyes search the sand, a small smile playing on her lips. I want to break the silence with a slick comment like “I see you both know the feeling”, but that’s when I feel it. 

The unmistakable tug on my soul has my legs running. I vaguely hear Prahsehss yelling for me to come back, and Sershah warning of rain on the other side of the forest. But I don’t care. The sun disappears and is replaced with a steady drizzle as I race through the canopy of Sershah’s favorite forest.

The sound of thunder grows louder the further I run. An intense pressure clings to my chest. They’re here. I know they are.

“Sorry for making you wait, beautiful.”

The sound of his voice nearly brings me to my knees. He stands on the muddy banks of the swamp, and I race towards him. Prahsehss is going to have a lot to say about my clothes, but I don't care. His laughter echoes around him as I tackle him back into the mud and hug him fiercely.

“Finally,” I choke through a sob. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” he sighs, holding me close. His arms are warm. Like home. My home.

“Ahlirah!”

I look back to find a winded Prahsehss and Sershah standing at the edge of the swamp, bewildered and concerned. I wave at them and point to the muddy man beneath me.

“Look, guys! I found my soulmate!”