“Amias?” Gloria murmurs.
Looking through the crowds of women in simple dresses and men in collared shirts, I pick up my pace and follow the string. Gloria calls my name and runs behind me, but I don't want to wait in case their match gets too far.
My heart jolts when I spot a man dressed in black leather reaching for a food truck window lined with amare flowers. He’s given a dessert like the one drawn on the truck, a little heart shaped cake dipped in pink cream, under the printed sign,“Amare Flavored Cream Cake!”
The man wearing black leather jacket walks by me and the pressure of the pink string strengthens. It happens every time soulmates are close and my powers are in use.
He's the one for her.
I sigh, my heart digesting in my stomach. As the grandson of the gift of Love, it's only right to bring them together.
“Amias?” Gloria murmurs beside me, quirking a brow.
I titter and nod my head in his direction. “You’ll have better luck with that guy. The one with the leather.”
She follows my gesture, her eyes twinkling once she spots him. She falls quiet for a moment. “You think?”
“I can sense it.”
Her eyes shift as if to take in all the detail. He even looks more like her type; muscular and handsome, with a confident and charming spirit. He's the guy that women fawn over in movies, complete with dark hair and bronzed skin.
When my powers were triggered from just a single glance, I can tell she wouldn't be put in harm's way with him. He would protect her and adore her until his dying breath. He's perfect for her.
She deserves to have that kind of love.
“Well, you better get to him before you miss your chance.” I chuckle, nudging her shoulder.
She jumps before making eye contact again. “Oh! Yeah…I guess I should.” The silence returns, her eyes flicking side to side before holding my gaze again. “This is really mature of you. I mean…we're on a date and you're willing to admit that you're not my soulmate, and you point out the right guy just as you realized.”
I shrug. “I'd rather you find the one than have me waste your time. It's the right thing to do.”
She gives me a slow nod before returning a grin. “You might not be the one for me, but you're truly the best date.”
“I try.”
“And you will find someone. Even if you’re technically soulmateless. There has to be a woman out there waiting for you.”
I titter. If only that were true. “We'll see.”
“Thank you.” She starts making her way over to her soulmate. “You're the best!”
“No problem.” I watch as she approaches him. Wiping his lips of the cream from the cake, he immediately smirks at her greeting.
Finally being alone, I drop my shoulders. That’s quite literally the fiftieth date I've gone on. Still no match.
There's a pit of emptiness within me, the dread knowing I'll never experience something as special as love.
I turn away, bowing my head as I stroll by couples and families doing romantic crafts at different tents and blowing out the fire lit in the middle of red ignise flowers floating on the water fountains. Many women hold amare flowers in one hand as they grip their lover with the other, some stopping to admire the glow when they both touch it.
l avert my eyes to my leather shoes. It's like life is mocking me. Every couple looks so happy and fulfilled. Their lives are complete. I know others feel fulfilled without a lover, but I'm not like them. Life will still hold its beauty, but there will always be an empty space that longs to be filled.
But I've had fifty one dates, none of them going past the third. It's okay that none of them fit me, because people deserve to find their true soulmates, but the hope of having a lover dwindles each time.
But it's already been determined. I'm soulmateless. Destined to never find love. Never to be complete. To always yearn but never obtain it.
I cup my hands together. Focusing on my magic, my eyes tense again, their pink glow reflecting on my skin. Within seconds, the beautiful stemless amare flower grows.
It won't glow tonight. It won't ever glow.
