“If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know?”
lol yes, so then i can shave.
Has anyone written a book about this yet? I think it’d be interesting!!!!!!
One minute, 37 seconds. My legs are shaking. Holy cow, there is no way I can do this. None. One minute, 29 secods. I glance around at the faces surrounding the room. Of course my Meeting would take place in the gross, overcrowded cafeteria. One minute, six seconds. Somewhere within these four walls, someone has the exact same countdown on their wrist. They’re going through the exact same pressure as me. 54 seconds. Mom said I should be excited, not nervous. Yet I still find myself wiping my sweaty palms on my dress. I can’t believe she talked me into wearing a dress. I mean, shouldn’t my Soul Mate meet me as I normally am? All plain jeans, blah shirts, and wild brown curls? 30 seconds. Something deep within me tells me to stand up. I do, drawing the attention of my tablemates. They all know too. They smile encouragingly up at me. I chew my lip nervously. 25 seconds. That same feeling pulls me towards the center of the room. My stomach drops away from me as I take a step in that direction. 20 seconds. I continue in that direction. With each step the tempo of my heart picks up. 19. Faster. 18. Quicker. 17. More rapid. 16. It’s racing. Oh my god this is it. The moment my life changes forever. My eyes search frantically around the cafeteria, searching for someone who looks as nervous as me. For someone who’s heading towards their future with no sense of direction like me. 10 seconds. The feeling directs me slightly to the left. I turn to accomodate. 5. My heart has given up entirely. 4. I stop walking. 3. Just waiting left. 2. Everything is about to change. 1. Deep breath.
0000 d 00 h 00 m 00 s
Someone bumps my shoulder. I twirl around and my gray eyes meet blue, blue ones. “Hello there, love. It appears as though we’re Soul Mates then, eh?” As my words fail me, the only thing I can think is “I’m so glad I shaved this morning.”
^^^ THIS IS AMAZING
i think youre gonna write the book i nominate you you have no choice go get writing now
(I’d like to play what would happen in the ultimate plot twist)
“Thats weird…” I checked my wrist, the clock had just hit the 30 second mark but I looked around and there was no one there. I was a worrisome guy overall but I felt justified, I mean today was the day I was meeting my soul mate. Not that I expected my dream girl to be in the storage closet at work but still I was nervous.
Walking out with a box the boss had requested I walked back to my cash register setting it on the shelf. My wrist hit the 20 second mark
19 seconds
18 seconds
Where was she? I could not help but get worried that an error would pop up or that she was gone and my timer would run out with no response. I panicked, I’d change my own fate if I had to. Running out of time I hurried through the back door. There was a park outside and maybe I was supposed to be there to find my soul mate.
10 seconds
9 seconds
A faint ding of the doorbell hit my ear. Wait was that it?? She was here! I turned around running back to the counter. “Don’t worry I’m just in the back!”
I ran out looking at my wrist as it hit zero. Out of breath “Hi I’m Matt!” Sticking out my hand for a handshake it was met by a firm hand. Meeting my soulmate’s eyes for the first time they spoke.
“I’m Steven.” The man gave a smile “It’s nice to meet you.”
OH MY GOD
I watch my friend carefully. Her excitement is glowing all over her pretty face. Exactly 2 minutes left, she tells me. We’re waiting at the bus stop and the bus is coming in two minutes. I think she hoped she’d meet them on a beach at sunset or something. ”I mean that’s ok - these things can’t always be romantic I mean my mum met dad when he was working at the book store and it’s not like you can plan it to be romantic I just hoped, I mean everyone hopes don’t they-” she breaks off, looking at me awkwardly. “Sorry. It’s just a big day for me you know.” Yes I do know. You’ve been going on about it for the past year. I smile at her. ”Don’t worry. You nervous? You’ll be ok, you always are,” I grin, determined not to ruin this for her. It’s selfish of me to be moody. This is her future being determined. Right here. In now, precisely 1 minute 30 seconds. She smiles at me, but it isn’t quite reaching her eyes. She’s restless and keeps tapping her foot. Her eyes are wide with.. fear? Excitement? Nerves? Probably all of them and a thousand more things I can’t imagine. She keeps checking her wrist. So do I. The bus comes around the corner. 1 minute 10 seconds. ”Hey. I’ll leave you alone now ok? The bus is here. I’ll sit a couple of seats away, and be there if you need me,” I say, squeezing her arm reassuringly. “Good luck.” I hope it sounded sincere. The bus pulls up and I climb on first, taking a quick glance at her while I give the driver my ticket. She’s shaking and looks a little green. I want to give her a hug but know I shouldn’t interrupt now. I look at the passengers and it’s full of pensioners. My heart starts beating frantically. What? I can’t see anyone else at the bus stop. But she’s only 18, she can’t end up with a 80 year old. I turn around and look at her - she’s breathing hard. The bus driver asks if she’s ok but she ignores him. Her eyebrows are creased and her face is flushed. Oh. Oh no. Stay calm. Someone is probably late. I give her a thumbs up and try to smile reassuringly. I think it’s more of a grimace. I take a seat near the back. Look at my watch. 25 seconds. She sits down a few seats away.
Suddenly a dark shape runs past my window and a boy jumps on the bus. He has that same frantic look in his eyes. I breathe out with relief. ”Yeah get on, we’re running late,” the driver says, taking his ticket. The boy looks around, carefully stepping towards the seats. He’s tall and handsome, holding a sketchbook. I smile slightly; my friend hates art. 4 seconds He spots her. 3 seconds His eyes widen as he walks closer, as if being pulled by an invisible rope. 2 seconds My friend stands up too, that same rope tying her to him. 1 second - ”I was worried the bus would leave. No way could I miss meeting my soul mate!” he jokes, though he looks just as nervous as she. They smile at each other as they both sit down together. I can’t hear what they’re talking about.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Suddenly I’m crying. Hot tears dropping down my cheeks.
I look at my wrist, scratching at it. Trying to get rid of it.
The numbers have never changed.
They’ve always been at 0.
That made me sad so…
The bus stops again a few minutes later. I don’t feel sad just empty and like a mistake. It’s not fair, it never has been that I have to watch everyone I know meet the love of their life and leave me behind. No one will ever love me like they will love their own soul mate. I can feel my tears staining my face and I try to brush them away but I can still feel them. People start filling the bus again up to the point where almost all the seats are taken. I sigh and start picking at my nails in a vague attempt to distract myself.
"Excuse me?" A voice asks. I look up. It’s a girl, maybe a few years younger than I am, her hair in a messy ponytail, "Are you waiting for someone?"
I shake my head as my eyes find the floor. “No.” I reply. Who would I be waiting for anyway?
She sits and the bus starts to move again. I am silent in the sea of chatter. The girl beside me is texting with one hand, her eyes on the small screen. I watch her for a minute and wonder about her. Her mouth is twisted into a faint smile as if she knows something everyone else doesn’t. Her eyes are sparked with interest but her feet knocking on the floor in impatience.
She looks up and catches my gaze. I avert my eyes quickly back to the floor. After a moment I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” the girl’s voice asks.
I don’t want to talk so I just shake my head. “No.” I say again.
I hear her laugh. “Is that the only word you know?”
"No." I reply and she laughs. I look up at her and scowl. "That’s not funny."
She stops laughing. “I’m sorry I just-” I glare at her and she stops talking for a moment. ”I thought you could use a laugh, I know it’s none of my business but you are crying.”
"I am not." I told her, holding her gaze.
She’s silent for a minute and then smiles at me. “My mistake.”
Really is she going to give up so easily? That’s not fair.
My friend and her soul mate stand up as the bus stops again. She looks back at me and waves before leaving, her eyes shinning with excitement.
I wave back slowly and the girl beside me speaks again. “Friend found her other half then?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
"That’s awesome."
"I guess."
"Don’t worry, yours will come soon enough."
I shake my head slowly. “I doubt that.”
More silence.
She speaks up. “I think it’s stupid.”
"What is?" I ask.
"That we leave it up to time to choose who we will love with more of our heart. It leaves no time for trial and error to see if we really do love someone. It would be so much better for it to be a mystery. I don’t want to be blind and just wait for the person time has chosen. If I’m so focused on them, how do I know that I’m not passing up someone with an adventure for me? I want to love someone on my own terms, with my own time."
I stare at her. “Isn’t that a bit selfish? I mean, you are going to meet your soul mate eventually, what are you going to do? Walk away?”
She shakes her head. “I am selfish. But I want someone to love me for me. Not because time told them to.”
"But what about your clock?"
She smiles and lifts her sleeve. The glass over the clock has been smashed, blurring the numbers that should have been counting down. Under the broken glass I could see the numbers.
They were all at 0.
"Don’t get angry, it was broken before I smashed it." she tells me.
I stare at her at a loss for words. My heart hammered against my ribs. I cleared my throat quickly,”I think I want to try that trial and error thing you were talking about.” I tell her. “Do you think we could find an adventure?” I ask hopefully.
The bus stopped again and she stood. “Do you think your soul mate would mind?”
I covered my wrist with my hand and looked at her. “No.”
She gave me a big smile and outstretched her hand. “Okay, let’s have an adventure.”
Okay, but what if????
"Just three more minutes, you’re almost there." I’m alone in my room, my book clutched in my hands and forgotten as I stare at my wrist. The clock is counting down. I’ve waited 18 years to finally get this over with. Once it hits zero, I’ll for sure never have to be told that "that special someone is out there" or that "you just need to believe" crap anymore. I stay inside most the time, what do they know? I’m perfectly fine with being alone. I’m used to it, and quite frankly, I enjoy the silence.
2 minutes 15 seconds
Suddenly my window is thrown open, and that boy down the street clambers in and crashes on my floor.
"What are you doing here?" I demand this calmly, this isn’t the first time it’s happened. He chuckles and rubs the back of his head.
"I, uh, kinnda pulled another one of my pranks." He explains this with not nearly enough regret. I roll my eyes.
1 minute 27 seconds
"Look, you need to get out of my room." He’s heard this before. It shouldn’t be any different than the other times I’ve told him. He knows I don’t like company, even as kids he’s known this.
"Yeah, hold on a second." He checks his wrist and I’m not sure for what reason. He notices my look and gives a devious grin.
"So the prank I pulled wasn’t just any old prank. I specifically designed it so that she’ll HAVE to follow me! And I just have to avoid her older brother for a bit! I’ll head down before my clock runs out." I know who ‘she’ is, she’s the pretty girl down the street, the one next to his house. He’s had a crush on her since she moved into the neighborhood.
Wait. did he say his clock was running out? I immediately grab his arm and put it next to mine, he whines in protest and says I’m hurting him. It’s probably true, my nails are digging into his skin from all the pent up apprehension.
30 seconds flashes on both arms
He stares at me and I stare right back, completely aghast. This can’t be right. No, no, no, NO. We’ve disliked each other from day one. He was always childish, overexcited, demanded attention and cracked the worst of jokes. I like the solitude, the way I could feel secure in knowing I didn’t have to depend on someone, on knowing that I couldn’t be hurt by someone I loved.
15 seconds
I drag him back to the window and shove him halfway out, he clings to the frame out of instinct and I try my best to throw him out anyways.
"Get out of here now. I don’t want to be stuck with you!”
"Hey! And just what is wrong with me? It’s not like you’re a bunch of fun you know?!"
We’re panicking, he’s scrambling on the pain, he’s swung both legs over the frame. Neither of us thought for him to leave through my bedroom door. This can’t be right, this can’t be right! We’re complete opposites, we’re nothing alike! We’re-
He turns to look at me, our eyes meet briefly in a mixture of fear and excitement and who knows what else when we hear the nearly inaudible sound of our clocks beeping at the same time. The sound would have been charming, they were both in key and harmonized well, but the fact I was looking at my so called ‘soulmate’ made it sound like a death toll.
"Shit." He whispered. I’m too stunned to add anything to his succinct and appropriate comment. He continues to sit there, unsure of what to do, and swings his legs. A blush has formed on his face and I’m fairly sure he’s kicking himself for crashing into my bedroom in the first place. Why did he anyways? I look past him and see the girl he likes walking into the street and scream his name in anger. She’s soaked from what I assume a water balloon attack (one of his favorites). He glances at her, but keeps his head down and away from my gaze.
"I’ll pretend this never happened if you do." I’m willing to throw this away. I don’t need him. He doesn’t need me. We’re better off without each other. Besides, his fair Ophelia is down there waiting to wrap him in a suffocating embrace.
"I, um, guess this would be the best time as ever to say this?" He finally looks at me. His eyes are different, clearer, not as panicked, and something else I can’t entirely pin. Relief? Understanding? He’s not paying attention to the girl out on the street, or thinking about what’ll happen if he stays on my windowsill a minute longer.
"Would it be weird if I say I want us to be soul mates?" The words shock me. Yes, it is weird. All he’s ever talked about was this girl next door, with his friends, at school, I was surprised she was able to avoid him without a restraining order for so long. I’m not only his opposite, but I’m hers as well.
I’m not as physically attractive, I don’t make friends easily, my family isn’t picture perfect and more than anything I like to know I don’t need another person’s love. They all leave in the end, whether they mean to or not. He sees the answer on my face, gives an understanding nod and doesn’t push it further. I’m surprised. He’s giving me space. He more than anyone has always invaded it, and now he’s backing off.
"Just let me know if you’d ever like to try ‘us’ out, alright?" Another disarmingly sweet smile actually makes me feel better. He’s giving me the choice to start the relationship. He’s letting me be in control, where I feel most comfortable, where I know I’m safe. I hate this, I hate this so much but I grab him by his shirt collar and and pause before I know what to say.
What do I want to say?
"Promise not to break your leg like the last time when you leave." He laughs, clearly happy to see I’m settling back into my rhythm. Without warning he kisses me lightly, barely even brushing our lips and I instantly let go of his shirt. He leans back out with a content look while my heart’s racing faster than I want it to.
"It feels right with you." My mind briefly flashes the rumors I had heard about him kissing his previously thought to be dream girl just last week, how he had seemed a bit more subdued and sluggish afterwards. It all starts to connect a little i my head, but I’m still confused, and then I realize he’s gone and kissed me and before I have the personal pleasure of pushing him out the window myself he clambers down and promises to see me tomorrow.
I slam my window in protest, and he knows it means I’ll be work, and he’s never been one to back down from a challenge before.
Guys. This is already a movie. It's called TiMER. It's on Netflix
