When Fenner’s mum walked downstairs to make her morning tea at 6am, she nearly jumped out of her skin, thinking someone had broken in to her house. “Fenner! My God, don’t scare me like that,” she gasped. “What are you doing down here sweetie? You don’t need to get up for another hour at least!”

Fenner sighed, laying his head on the table. “Mum, something is wrong. Am I pregnant or something?!” She sighed, hugging her son gently. “Sweetie, your invisibility isn’t like a period, just because it’s two weeks late doesn’t mean something has happened. This is a good thing, right? You were worried two weeks ago when you and Albie got together that he would forget you, but everything has been great between you two, and you haven’t gone invisible.”

Fenner sighed again. “I know, I should be happy, but…it’s been 6 weeks since it last happened.” He sat up in his seat. “This isn’t normal.” She nodded, sitting next to her son. “Sweetie,” she began, unsure if she should tell him this. She decided he needed to know. “I’m going to tell you everything about the curse.” He looked at her with confusion. “I thought you already told me everything?”

She bit her lip. “Not…everything. Just listen, alright?” He nodded, not sure what to expect. “Our family was cursed about 100 years ago. Our family has Nahreon blood in our veins. The Nahreon were a people which were in tune with the spirits, and when in times of dire need, would fuse their souls with the spirits to give them power. The power that our ancestors obtained from the spirit was that of invisibility, but other members of the Nahreon were given other powers, such as animal-like characteristics, or the power to control fire.

“However, when they died, the spirits would leave their souls, and the Nahreon would be returned to normal humans. However, there was one member of the Nahreon whose spirit did not leave her - the spirit and she fell in love, and when her body was on the verge of death, the spirit refused to let his loved one die. So, the spirit prayed to the Gods, promising anything to let his human love survive. The Gods looked at the Nahreon member’s life and existence, and decided she was worthy of surviving.

“But one God, was spiteful. This God had also been in love with the spirit, and so when they saw the human and spirit happily together, they grew furious, and cursed the Nahreon member, to be forgotten for 100 years, if she stayed with the spirit. Of course, she chose to stay with her love, and so, every time she used her power of invisibility, everyone but the spirit would forget her. The Nahreon member decided to never use her power again, in order to not be forgotten.

“Eventually, the Nahreon member and the spirit had a child, and the curse, along with the spirit’s power, was passed down to the child. However, the child did not have control over its power, and so was fated to be forgotten by all, except its mother, as she had the same power as it. The child was forgotten, until it met its soulmate - the love the spirit showed the Nahreon member had blessed the child and all future offspring to be remembered by its soulmate, to offset some of the pain caused by the curse.”

She took a breath, stopping for a moment. “Fenner, it’s been 100 years, the curse should be lifted next year, and you’ll have control over your power, and no longer be forgotten when you use it. I think the delay in your invisibility is your body trying to regain control over the power, as the curse is about to be broken - you don’t want to go invisible and have Albie forget you, so unconsciously, your body might be suppressing the invisibility.”

Fenner sat in silence, processing it all. “What the actual Fuck, mum - you’re telling me we all got cursed because of some shitty jealous God? That’s so fucking petty!” She laughed, hugging her son to her chest. Fenner hugged her back. “So, I’m deliberately not going invisible, to not be forgotten, just in case Albie isn’t my soulmate?” She nodded, kissing him on the forehead.

“This does mean, however, that the purpose of a soulmate will be gone.” He looked at her with confusion. “What do you mean?”

“The purpose of the soulmate is to not forget their soulmate, but if the curse is broken, soulmates won’t be needed anymore. Of course, I’ll still love my husband no matter what, but it’ll be harder to find your soulmate. What I mean is, even if Albie does forget you, don’t give up - if you love him, keep trying to forge a bond with him.”

Fenner sat up straighter. “You’re saying even if he is my soulmate he could still forget me?? Then, he’s gonna forget me no matter what!” His mother nodded sadly. “I believe this is your body breaking the curse, but it could always just be delayed.” She held his hand gently. “Sweetie, I think you’re going to be heartbroken no matter what.”