After a long hiatus in writing, I'd thought I'd give it a go, and scrape a little of the rust off.
Life After
Lyndsey sat on the fountain, looking out across the courtyard. She watched as the people passed by in pairs. Some holding hands, some arguing, some just comfortable in their silence. But each in the presence of his or her soul mate. What a strange world she lived in.
She remembered the stories she'd grown up hearing from her mother, about how she'd had finally found the man of her dreams in a grocery store after years of searching: In a world before SoulSearch Enterprises.
Despair crept up on her like the ivy growing up the face of the brick building across the street. She longed to be transported back in time, to a place where her soul mate couldn't be selected for her by a computer program. To a time when a woman could bump into a man in the grocery store and find her partner in life.
Chris' gentle face flashed in her mind, leaving a cold chill to worm its way up her spine. If only she'd had more time with him before his death. If only she'd had more memories to carry with her. But she didn't. Even though she'd sent her Acknowledgment of Readiness to SSE when she was 18, Chris had waited years longer. When they'd finally met, he'd admitted that the whole process just seemed unnatural. But once he'd been introduced to Lyndsey, he'd fallen head of heels.
That was before he'd literally fallen head over heels from the top of the skyscraper during a construction job, and left her forever, only 2 weeks after they'd finally been introduced.
Now, all around her, couples passed, none bothering to look at her. They had eyes only for each other. They trusted the process at Soul Search, never doubting, never questioning, but blindly following. Never asking 'what if'? Neither had Lyndsey. Now she didn't have to ask 'what if' because she already knew. Once you lost your match, you were on your own in a world where people relied on the computer to guide their futures. Alone and without hope.
The fluttering a paper in her face pulled her from her thoughts. Looking up, she found herself mesmerized by the piercing gaze of the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. Chocolate eyes smiled at her from under dark, expressive brows. He held the paper out to her, waiting for her to take it. When she reached out and grasped it, he just turned and walked away. When he disappeared, alone, in the crowd she finally glanced down at the flyer she clutched in her hand.
Survivors Meeting
All are welcome
There is life after the
loss of your soul mate.
