Monday August 12th

I was at the bus stop waiting to get home and have some sleep, my days arent filled with much, just the usually dailyroutines of eating sleeping washing housework and so on.

Every few days or so i would go into a conept design firm and help out where i could. Ha. 3 years of 3d art design in university and all i can do is som side work. Its better than nothing though, i still have enough money to get by, with enough spare to buy some extra's like new video games or go to the movies.

I digress

I only needed to go a couple stops on the bus but couldnt be bothered walking. The bus was late (as usual) so i resigned my self to wait patiently. Looking to my right i saw a young girl, about 15 maybe 16, she looked very nervous, constantly looking around and down to her wrist.

'oh, it must be time for her' i thought with a tinge of sadness.

"how long left?" i ask the girl. Immediatly she looks at me with unabridged hope flowing from her eyes. Shoulders tensing and looking at me enough to see i was even there she looks back to her wrist to see how long was left, i managed to catch a glimps of the time 00:05:33.

The girl visably deflates and with out even looking back at me she replies.

"Five minutes"

i can see how she is barely even breathing, hoping that the timer would count down quicker, or maybe slower hoping to give her soulmate a chance to arrive.

"Just breathe, i'm sure he will be here" i tell the poor girl hoping to calm her down a little.

I catch her glancing at my wrist, upon seeing that i dont have a countdown she looks at me with new hope in her eyes. I've seen it dozens of times, the young and hopeful seeing that they could get some advice from somone who has already found their soulmate, if only she knew the truth.

"Are you sure, shouldn't he be here by now? What if something happened to him? What do i say? What if i scare him off or he doesnt like me?" she quickly prattles off her worries hoping that i could answer at least one of her worries. but as i said, ive seen all of this before, i know how to reply.

"The countdown is until you meet your soulmate, in five minutes he will show up, if something happened then the timer would go straight to zero" This was always something that people worried about the time came to meet their soulmate.

"As for what to say, or scaring him off?" pausing here always helps believe it or not, they always think of the worst or they think im finding some truly sagely advice.

"Just be yourself. Don't forget that this is the one you are probably going to spend the rest of your life with. He should see you for who you really are not who you think he might want. but simply starting with your name is a good place to start." Hopefully this will be enough for the girl, she seems to be really thinking this over.

"But what if he doesn't want a soulmate? what if I don't like him?" The girl quickly panicks.

"Breathe. you can't keep thinking about all the stuff you can't change." i reply quickly, hoping the poor child doesnt have a panick attack.

"I know, why don't you tell me where you would go for your first date?" Hopefully this will distract her enough to start thinking happy thoughts.

"I was thinking about maybe the aquarium, but what if he doesnt like fishes or if im boring?" The girl says looking at her feet while absentmindedly rubbing her wrist with the timer. 00:03:12. Not long now.

"Do you like fish?" i ask hoping this would lead where i could do the most help.

"I love fish, but what if he doesnt, what if bore him with what i enjoy?"

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"Trust me, he will love the aquarium with you, even if he doesnt like fish i know he will have a good time. For the simple fact that you would be excited and happy. Thats what love really is." I only hope that this will make her feel better and help her on her way.

Silence surrounds us for a few seconds, i begin to worry that maybe i havent helped as much as i hoped.

"You're right" she reply with a small genuine smile, the kind of smile that reminds you that you have done the right thing.

00:00:51

Its nearly time, but...

The bus is here. and the boy is nowhere in site.

Oh no.

Not this girl, dont do it please. Give her happiness, let her smile that lovely smile of hers.

The bus pulls up and the doors open revealing a middleaged bus driver. The bus is filled with mostly middle aged people and a couple of kids.

No soulmate in site.

"Go on, i promise you he will be here" i encourage the girl, hoping for the life of me that i haven't just raised her hopes only to have them crushed.

She slowly makes her way onto the bus, hoping to buy whatever time she could, but it was not enough. She takes her ticket and moves to an empty seat, even from 10 feet away i can see the tears welling up, i can feel my tears welling up.

I take as long as possible, i fumple through my wallet for my buss pass, hoping that at any second the boy will come running.

Nothing

I take my seat next to the girl, hoping that i could at least cheer her up and tell her it will be ok. 00:00:05.

Damn God

Damn Destiny

Damn whatever gave us these timers

00:00:04

The bus doors close and the driver prepares to leave.

00:00:03

The bus slowly lurches out from the stop, but out of the corner of my eye i see a streak of black.

00:00:02

banging on the window tell everyone on the bus that there is someone left. The girl next to me doesnt even notice. I can see the tears rolling down her cheeks as she tries to stiffle her silent sobs.

The driver opens the door as a boy, close to 17, tall, handsome and holding a sketchbook. i quickly look at the girls timer.

00:00:00

Its time

No

IT'S HIM!

i quickly nudge the girl next to me, the boy is still standing at the front of the bus looking over the passengers, but is he going to miss the girl, she is hidden behind the passenger in front. She needs to look up, raise her head, ANYTHING!

The girl ignores my nudges, the boy looks degected. He couldnt find his soul mate, i have to do something. For the poor girl crying her eyes out. For the poor boy who's heart has just broken.

The boy walks down the aisle, he is nearly at me. I stand, the boy nearly walking into me, he looks up. I can see in his eyes that he has given up all hope.

I gently place a hand on his shoulder and guide him into my seat, as he looks over he breaks out into a massive grin. still recovering from the near tragedy. He takes the seat, as i slowly make my way to the front of the bus.

"Hi, I'm Adam" the boy says, in a gentle velvet like voice. the girl looks up and immediatly brightens up with a smile that could outshine the sun.

"Hi" she wipes away her tears with her arm. "Im Ashley"

I get to the front of the bus and quickly jump off befor the doors close, i look back at the bus to see it leaving just a secong later. I feel my tears flowing freely now. I look at my wrist where my timer should be, and slowly peel back a hidden sleeve.

I look at my wrist, scratching at it, Trying to get rid of it.

The numbers have never changed.

They've always been at 0