He closed his eyes.
I could feel his hand trembling slightly under mine.
He really was stressed. More stressed than I’d realized.
It’s okay,I wanted to tell him.I’ve got you. I’m going to take care of you. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what the universe sent me to do.But I had a feeling that would make him more stressed, not less. So instead, I squeezed his hand gently and said, “How about we just... take it one day at a time? No pressure. No expectations. Just... see what happens. The universe will guide us.”
He opened his eyes.
“One day at a time,” he repeated.
“Exactly.”
“And what happens after that one day?”
“Another day. And then another. Until eventually, you’ll look back and realize that everything worked out exactly as it was supposed to.”
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then he pulled his hand away, gently, but firmly, and picked up his coffee again.
“I need to call my lawyer,” he said.
Oh.
That... wasn’t quite the response I’d been hoping for.
But that was okay. The universe worked in mysterious ways. Sometimes people needed time to adjust to their destiny. Sometimes they needed to fight it a little before they could surrender to it.
Julien was clearly a fighter. Which made sense. He was a brain surgeon. Fighting was probably in his nature. But eventually, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, he’d understand. He’d see what I saw.
That we were meant for this.
That the universe had brought us together for a reason.
That he needed someone to take care of him, and I needed someone to take care of.
That we were soulmates.
The waiter appeared with our food. I’d ordered the cosmic energy bowl, which was basically açai and granola and good intentions; Julien had ordered dry toast, which felt very sad and very on-brand—and I smiled at him.
“Thank you,” I said. “The universe appreciates your service.”
The waiter looked confused but smiled back.
Julien put his head in his hands.
I took a bite of my açai bowl and sent a silent thank-you to the universe.
I know he doesn’t see it yet,I thought.But I do. I see exactly what you’re doing. And I promise I’ll take care of him. I promise I’ll help him learn to breathe. To let go. To trust.
That’s what I’m here for.
That’s what you sent me to do.
The universe didn’t respond. It rarely did, not in words anyway, but I felt a warmth in my chest that I chose to interpret as approval.
Everything was unfolding exactly as it should.
