Soulmates

By Michelle Cho

He grew up in a lower middle class suburban area near Albuquerque. His father was a policeman, his mother was a journalist for the local paper, and his sister was going to a performing arts college for dance. He was a mediocre student. He made high enough test scores to get into the best college in the state. He pledged to a Fraternity. He had the time of his life.

He graduated with honors. He was able to land an emotionally and financially rewarding job in Houston. He dated women throughout the years. He decided to settle down. He got married to a nice girl. He had two children with this woman, a boy and a girl. He was happy with his family for some time. His wife abruptly left him. He was devastated when she took his children. He rarely saw them.

He dated other women for a number of years after. He met a nicer, younger girl with whom he tried matrimony with again. He had another son with this woman. He saw it coming this time when she was going to leave him. He left her first. He got the child this time.

He raised his son. His son grew up. He grew old. He retired. He spent the remainder of his years at a respectable retirement community and worked his charm on many of the ladies there. He lived a good life.

He lived a good life because he never met his soulmate. He never took time to get to know his neighbors as a child. He never ran into Bethany at the annual summer block party. He never fell head over heels for her. He never dropped out of college to join her in New York. He never built his life around her. He never had children with her. He never grew old with her. He never felt complete.

They say "soulmates" usually live within a 10 mile radius of each other.