Love is comfort, companionship, acceptance, calm and quiet.

As Mila and I step into the dimly lit restaurant, the scent of garlic and butter wafts towards us. I'm immediately hit with a wave of excitement - this is one of my favorite spots in the city. I flash a wide grin at Mila and she giggles, her blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders.

We're seated at a cozy table for two by the window, overlooking the bustling New York City streets. The walls are adorned with vintage paintings and the tables are draped with crisp white linen. The place has a classic old-school charm, which is probably why it's always so packed.

Our waiter, a middle-aged man with a pencil-thin mustache, approaches our table with a flourish. "Good evening, ladies. Welcome to La Vida Dolce, the finest Italian eatery in all of New York. My name is Giuseppe, and I will be your server tonight. May I start you off with some drinks?"

Mila orders a glass of red wine, while I opt for a sparkling water. As Giuseppe scurries off to the bar, I take a moment to take in the restaurant's atmosphere. The chattering of diners fills the air, mingling with the soft music playing in the background. I catch a whiff of someone's truffle risotto and my stomach grumbles in response.

"So, what are you getting?" I ask, trying to sound casual. I don't want to give away that I'm treating her to dinner because I flaked on that blind date she set up for me. She'd never let me live it down.

"I don't know," she responds, still studying the menu. "Everything sounds so fancy and complicated."

I roll my eyes, already knowing what she's going to order. "You always get the same thing," I say, teasing her. "Just order the chicken and be done with it."

Mila scoffs, but I can see the hint of a smile on her face. "I'm feeling adventurous tonight," she says, closing the menu with a snap. "I'm going to try something new."

"I'm thinking the lobster risotto," she says, looking up at me. "What about you?"

"Oh, I'm going all out," I say, waving my menu around for emphasis. "I'm talking appetizers, entrees, and dessert. I'm about to make this place regret ever letting me through the door."

My best friend laughs, and I feel a warm glow in my chest. We place our orders once Giuseppe brings our drinks.

As we wait for our food, I can't help but people-watch. The restaurant is filled with New York's elite, dressed to the nines and flaunting their wealth.  I glance around the room my eyes fall upon a couple sitting at a table in the corner. They seem to be lost in their own world, gazing deeply into each other's eyes. That's when I notice it - a soft, glowing aura surrounding them in a beautiful shade of pink.

I can't help but smile to myself as I realize that they've found their soulmate. It's a rare sight, but always fills me with a sense of happiness and hope for others. I've never told anyone about my ability to see auras, not even Mila. It's my little secret.

Mila catches my eye and notices my smile. "What's got you grinning like a Cheshire cat?" she asks.

"Oh, nothing," I say, trying to play it cool.

Mila raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Okay, spill it. What's going on?"

I pause for a moment, considering whether or not it’s time to tell her about who I really am. But I decide against it - she might think I'm crazy. Instead, I make up a little white lie.

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Just thought about changing my order to lasagna it looks so good"

Mila giggles, but then gets serious. She takes a sip of her wine. "That's for sure. Hey, so, about that blind date I set you up with..."

I groan. "Oh, heavens, Mila, please don't remind me. I still have nightmares about it."

She takes another sip of her wine and leans in closer to me, her blue eyes sparkling. "So, spill the tea, Cham. What happened?"

I take a deep breath and sigh. "Mila, it was a disaster. The guy was nice and all, but we had absolutely nothing in common. He kept talking about his collection of porcelain dolls and how he's a big fan of knitting."

Mila bursts out laughing, nearly spilling her wine. "Oh my god, no way. You're kidding, right?"

"I wish I was," I say, shaking my head. "I tried to be polite, but I just couldn't take it anymore. I faked an emergency and got out of there as fast as I could."

She chuckles. "Well, I was thinking maybe you should give him another chance. He's a really nice guy, and I think you two could hit it off."

I shake my head. "Sorry, Mila, I'm just not into blind dates. I prefer to meet people the old-fashioned way. You know, at a bar, drunk off my ass."

“Plus, I’m pretty sure that when I do meet my soulmate, I’ll know it immediately.” I add

"You know, Cham, sometimes I wonder if you're psychic or something. You always seem to know when something's going to happen."

I raise an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Mila leans in conspiratorially. "Like, remember when I first met James? You told me he was going to be the one, and you were right. And then when I got promoted at work, you said it was going to happen before I even knew about it. I don't know, it's just weird."

I smile, trying to play it cool. "I don't know about psychic, but I do have a pretty good intuition. Maybe it's all the therapy sessions I do. You learn to read people pretty well."

Mila nods thoughtfully. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Anyway, I'm glad we're doing this dinner. It's been too long since we've had some quality girl time."

I grin. "Same here. I've missed you, girl."

Our food arrives, and I'm pretty sure my eyes bulge out of my head when I see the portions. As we dig in, we both let out a moan of delight.

"This is amazing," I say, taking another bite of the steak, savoring every bite.

Mila nods taking a bite of her lobster risotto "I know, right? I could eat here every day if I could afford it."

"So," I say, trying to keep things light. "How's the married life?"

Mila grins, the worry lines on her face smoothing out. "It's good, it's good," she says. "Same old, same old, you know?"

I nod, pretending to understand. I've never been married, never even been in a serious relationship, but I try not to let it show. "Any juicy gossip?" I ask, leaning in closer.

Mila giggles, and I can see the twinkle in her eye. "Well," she says, lowering her voice. "I did catch James watching 'The Bachelor' last night."

I can't help but laugh "Oh, the horror!" I say, covering my mouth in mock horror.

Mila takes a sip of her wine and sets her glass down, her eyes alight with curiosity, she asks about my latest clients at work. I can't help but roll my eyes. She knows that as a therapist, I'm not allowed to talk about my clients. But I decide to have a little fun. I take a sip of my water and give her a playful smile.

"Oh, just another couple whose biggest issue is that they both insist on being right all the time. I suggested they start a podcast and let the world decide," I say with a chuckle.

Mila rolls her eyes and laughs. "Well, they definitely won't be the first couple to start a podcast," she says, referencing the countless couples who have started recording their relationship drama for public consumption.

I nod in agreement. "It seems like everyone and their dog has a podcast these days. Maybe I should start one about my matchmaking skills," I joke.

Mila laughs again. "Hey, it could be a hit. And who knows, maybe you'll even find your own soulmate in the process," she teases.

I can't help but blush a little at the thought. As an angel, I'm supposed to remain pure and virtuous, but the idea of finding my own soulmate has always been a secret desire of mine. I quickly shake off the thought and focus back on the food, determined not to let my mind wander too far.

We continue chatting and laughing, catching up on each other's lives. Mila tells me about her new job at a marketing agency and the crazy coworkers she has to deal with. I fill her in on my latest therapy sessions and the clients who make me want to pull my hair out.

After we finish our entrees, I lean back in my chair and pat my stomach. "That was delicious. I don't know how I'm going to fit any dessert in, though."

Mila laughs. "Come on, Cham, you can't come to a place like this and not try their dessert. It's like skipping the grand finale of a fireworks show."

I can't argue with her logic, so I flag down our waiter and ask for the dessert menu. Mila and I pore over it, debating between the chocolate lava cake and the tiramisu. Finally, we settle on the chocolate mousse.

I notice a woman walking towards the door. She's wearing a baby blue dress, but what catches my attention is her aura. It's a vibrant royal blue, which is quite rare and unique. I can't help but stare as she walks by our table, and Mila gives me a strange look.

"Cham, are you okay?" she asks.

I shake my head, realizing I must have been staring. "Yeah, sorry, I just got lost in thought for a second there."

Mila raises an eyebrow but doesn't push further. As we dig into our desserts, I can't help but keep my eyes on the woman in blue. I know exactly who her soulmate is: my brother Michael. The realization sends chills down my spine, and I feel a mix of excitement and dread. I can't wait to tell him, but I also know how stubborn he can be when it comes to matters of the heart. But of course, I can't just blurt that out to Mila.

The woman's features are striking – high cheekbones, piercing green eyes, and long dark hair cascading down her back. She exudes an air of confidence and poise, and I can't help but admire her from afar. But as much as I want to tell Michael about her, he wouldn’t like that. I always find it amusing that he chose to pursue a life of celibacy, but who am I to judge? 

I turn my attention back to Mila, who's practically inhaling her dessert. "Slow down there, tiger," I joke, causing her to laugh and shake her head.

"I just can't resist a good chocolate mousse," she says, wiping some of the dessert off her face.

I chuckle, taking another bite of my own dessert. The rich chocolate flavor is heavenly, and I savor each bite as we continue to chat and catch up on each other's lives. But I can't shake the feeling of the woman in blue from my mind. Maybe I'll mention her to Michael the next time I talk to him.

As we finish our dessert, I realize that my mind has been wandering the entire time, lost in thoughts of my brother and his potential soulmate. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, and turn to Mila with a grin. "That was amazing, Mila. Thank you for letting me treat you tonight. You know how much I love spoiling my best friend."

Mila laughs, shaking her head. "You're always spoiling me, Cham. I should be treating you for a change," she says, reaching across the table to grasp my hand.

I smile, feeling grateful for her friendship. "No need, Mila. Your company is all I need."

As we leave the restaurant, I can't help but steal one last glance at the woman with the royal blue aura. Maybe someday, my brother and his soulmate will cross paths, and I'll be there to witness the magic unfold. But for now, I'm content with the warmth of Mila's hand in mine, as we make our way back out into the bustling streets of New York City.

As we step out of the restaurant, Mila turns to me with a twinkle in her eye. "Come on, Cham, let's go dancing! It's Friday night, and we've got nothing better to do."

I raise an eyebrow. "Nothing better to do? What about your husband?"

Mila rolls her eyes. "Please, he's working late again. Besides, I need a girls' night out."

I’m hesitant, but Mila's eyes are sparkling with excitement, and I can't say no to that. "Sure, why not? But let's go somewhere nice, like the 'Sapphire Lounge', it's a new hot spot." To be honest, I could use a little fun too. We hail a cab and make our way to the hottest club in town.

We strut into the club, the bass thumping so hard my molars are vibrating. Crystal chandeliers glisten above us, velvet curtains framing the entrance like it’s some kind of sexy theatre. Mila bolts to the dance floor, leaving me to fend for myself. So, I navigate through the chaos to find a spot at the bar.

Across the room, I see him. It's not just his suave look that catches my attention, but his aura, which swirls with two bright colors that seem to blend together in a hypnotic pattern. The first is a rare and powerful neon pink, like mine. But the second color throws me for a loop; it's a cheerful, sunny yellow that clashes in a way that shouldn't work.

It's a shade I've been searching for, for 32 years as a human, and I know instantly that this man is my soulmate. I can't stop staring at him. From afar, he has an effortless charm that oozes from every pore. He's got a chiseled jawline and a dimple on his left cheek that flashes whenever he grins. He carries himself with confidence, but not in an arrogant way. It's more like he wants everyone around him to have a good time. He's wearing a sleek black suit that fits him like a glove, and a crisp white shirt with the top few buttons undone, giving a tantalizing peek of his chest. His hair is neatly styled, and his dark eyes twinkle as he chats with the bartender.

Suddenly, he catches me staring, and I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks. I try to look away, but his aura is too distracting. It's like staring into a hypnotic, neon sign in the middle of Times Square. As he walks towards me, I can't help but wonder if he's feeling the same pull.

He approaches with a confident stride and flashes a grin, saying, "Well, well, well, what do we have here? A beautiful woman staring at me from across the room. Are you a fan or just trying to figure out how I manage to look so damn good in a suit?"