Page 18 of The Soul Never Forgets

“But it is wrong, Caroline. It’s wrong because––” The sound he makes is a groan. No, a growl. And his hand on the coffee table forms a tight fist, his knuckles blanching. “It’s wrong because I’m engaged to marry someone else.”

No.

No, no, no.

He misspoke.

I misheard.

That can’t be right.

This isn’t happening.

The thought of him being with another woman turns my stomach.

“You can’t be.”

“I am.”

We were once star-crossed, but that’s over now. All has been made right. He can’t remain engaged to another woman. Not after I went to hell and back, even changing history, to right a wrong so all would align between us. I did the impossible so we could be together in this life.

I am in his life now. He ismysoul mate.

And he isn’t married yet. An engagement can be undone.

“You can’t marry someone else. We’re soul mates. Surely you feel that as strongly as I do.”

“Confusion is what I feel.”

Confusion is an acceptable emotion. I can work with confusion.

“Do you deny the deep, profound, indescribable attachment that you feel in your heart for me, a person you met only three days ago?”

He shakes his head. “I do not deny it.”

“Then how would you explain the love you feel for me, a stranger?” I ask.

“I can’t explain it because I don’t understand what’s happening to me. I only know that I’m drawn to you. I want you in a way that I’ve never wanted anyone else.”

He’s frustrated. I hear it in his voice. I feel it deep in my bones. And it’s my place to bring calm to his storm by making him understand.

“You want me because we are fated to be together. I am a part of you, imprinted on your soul for eternity. No matter how many times we die and are reborn, we will always find our way back to each other. You are my other half and I am yours.”

“How do I know that what I’m feeling isn’t lust?”

Lust between people who aren’t fated is short-lived. “I want you to do something for me. Picture your life a year from now. Ten years from now. Twenty. Fifty. What does it look like? Who is standing by your side? Is it her? Or is it me?” My true soul mate would never be able to envision another woman by his side.

“It isn’t that simple. She’s the one who’s been by my side for years.”

And I’m the one who’s been by his side for centuries.

“Your feelings for her suddenly changed last November. Tell me if I’m wrong.”

“It’s true.” His eyes widen. “My feelings for her shifted last year sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And it was a sudden change that I couldn’t explain.”

I can explain. “The change happened because of me. Your true destiny was awakened when a wrong was made right.”

“I don’t understand your meaning.”

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