[ WP ] , When they turn 18 , everyone gets a clear mental image of their Soulmate , the one person they 're meant to love . Today is your birthday , and you see yourself .

The clock read 11.55pm, as my heart started to thump more excitedly. In 5 more minutes I would turn 18, an experience that I had waited my entire life. Heck, it was an experience that everyone looked forward to. Not because you're finally of legal age, but because at precisely 12 midnight on the day you turn 18, you'll see an image of the person you're meant to love. In other words, your soulmate. 
 
 **11.56pm**. I stared at the lake before me, the image of the moon clearly reflected on the surface. While others may choose to celebrate the occasion with friends or family, I had picked this spot in purpose. It was quiet and calm, allowing myself to my thoughts. Not that I have any friends or family anyway. Solitude has always been part of my life, which is pretty normal I guess when you're an unwanted orphan. 
 
 **11.57pm**. I thought of the person whom I was supposed to love. Will he be like me, a lonely person throughout his life, with no close friends or family? Or will he be the exact opposite of me, a fun guy and a sociable person, my knight in shining armor? My reflection stared back at me, the image of a unkempt girl with shabby clothes and messed up hair. How will he ever love someone like me? 
 
 **11.57pm**. Once upon a time ago, I was happy. I had friends. I had family. My parents loved me with all that they could. As a toddler, however, one could never see that. All that I wanted was more, as if the whole world revolved around me. I still remember that night. It was raining heavily as we were driving home after a movie. I was hungry and demanded for an ice-cream. My parents tried to explain to me that it was late and it was storming, but I did n't listened. I threw the biggest tantrum I could at the back of the car. My dad never saw the truck coming. 
 
 **11.58pm**. My bare foot splashed against the water, making small ripples that sent the fishes scurrying. What if this supposed soulmate of mine does n't love me the same way? There have been cases where the feelings are one sided, like Sally from the burger bar. She saw Justin Bieber in her vision, and thinking that he was meant to be her soulmate, she went all out to get him. What she did not realize that she was not the only one who had him in her vision. Suffice to say, the entire thing did n't end well. Even if we can see the image of who we're meant to love, not everyone ends up with a happily ever after. Only the lucky ones do. 
 
 **11.59pm. ** One more minute. I shuddered at the thought of an unrequited love, or even worse, love that changes. All my life I have been searching for someone to accept me for who I am, but what's there to stop them for getting bored at me after a while? What if the person does n't like who he sees? I'm far from pretty, and I have no social class or whatsoever to back me up. What if he gets my image, only to decide that he does n't love me? 
 
 -- -- -- -- - 
 
 And at 12.00am sharp, a bright light appeared before my eyes, the outline of a person forming slowly before me. I was anxious now, worried even. Afraid of what is to come. Terrified that just like my life, everything happy would only be ruined by myself sooner or later. 
 
 And when the final image materialized, the face a familiar figure, it finally dawned on me the person whom I am meant to love first, before anyone else. 
 
 Myself. 
 
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 /r/dori_tales
