fourth grade

The first thing his soulmate writes to him is a long (extremely long) line. It runs from his hand to his elbow.

He is slightly disturbed, looks at it in bewilderment until his teacher calls him out. He blushes bright red, but nobody notices.

He doesn’t write back.

…

fifth grade

Another time, after falling asleep in math, he finds his arms covered in ink. Small dashes, long lines. Squiggles.

It was the second and he finds himself a lot more annoyed than before.

Despite the heat, he throws on his jacket.

He doesn’t write back.

…

sixth grade

It’s not until the big heart that he snaps.

Red ink bloomed on his hand until the entire backside was made into a big heart.

He then grabs a waterproof marker and writes several obscenities, curses, and a doodle of murder. He washes off the heart until his hand is red and a bit raw.

He doesn’t notice that on his other arm, his soulmate had written, sorry.

…

seventh grade

There are more doodles this year. Not exactly cute or appealing, obviously sprouting from boredom.

Occasionally, he gets a math problem that he solves in seconds.

In return, he gets smiley faces and several stars.

When no one’s looking, he smiles back dopily at his hand and writes quotes.

(He makes friends again with a girl who sits in front of him. She’s bright and a little clumsy. He remembers her from fourth grade.)

…

summer

This is what his soulmate had written on her (his. Their) skin on April 15:

1. hello are you a boy

2. wait

3. tell me

4. are u cute tell me that u r cuz she’s desperate

5. omg if u r im jelly

6. do u like books

7. STOP DRAWING ON MY ARM JFC

8. sorry about that please ignore me (and obvs her) but that wasn’t all me ok ok

and after a few hours

9. she’s asleep rn so let me tell you this: i know.

…

eighth grade

He had long since realised that his soulmate wrote sonnets, poems, and stories on her arms and hands. She creates worlds buildings and universes on her calves. That was ever since freshman year.

After the summer, he’s been jittery.

Who was that?

How does ‘she’ know?

Who is ‘she’?

And then he jumps and forgets. Because written small on his wrist, were small words. Not meant to be legible but he does know.

'different classes’

He pretends not to see it and thinks of his friend that likes books and quills and Harry Potter things.

…

summer

He writes, thinking of his friend, moving away.

don’t go.

…

ninth grade

They do not talk much.

She draw him doodles.

He writes her quotes.

(The friend he likes is only active on the internet.)

His friend's best friend comes up to him.

She says, “I know.”

He says, “You’re she.”

She says, “That I am.”

He says, “I don’t believe you.”

She shrugs. Leaves.

…

tenth grade

Written in a hurried scrawl on his (her. Their) hand: Oct 21 bday

His heart beats faster.

And he sees her (his friend's) hand.

Oct 21 bday

(His heart breaks.

Aug 4 | chat log

She: I like you.

He: I’m sorry.)

…

summer

Before he leaves, without thinking, he takes a pen.

While waiting for her, he writes simply, where are you.

Her reply, underneath: oh.

After several minutes, he sees her.

They stare at each other through the glass for several moments.

He goes outside, pauses several paces in front of her.

They look at each other.

He writes, hi. on his hand.

She looks at her own, beams, shows her hand, and underneath writes back, hello.

And they’re smiling and laughing and then running towards the bus terminal because god they’re late they’re going to be late when in fact they are on time, and everyone else is late.

(Going home, their fingers brush, and they feel for each other blindly before they find each other at the same time.)