“Oh, well, Julien had a bit of a panic attack.”
“It wasn’t a panic attack.”
“Which was totally understandable because big life changes can be scary, even when everything is meant to be. But I explained to him that the universe had a plan, and that we weresoulmates, and that everything was going to work out exactly as it should.”
“And how did he take that?” Vivian had asked, her voice dripping with amusement.
“He called his lawyer.”
Vivian had laughed so hard she nearly drove off the road.
“I’m sorry,” she’d gasped, wiping tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry, I just... Julien, you calledRichard? Your insurance attorney?”
“He’s the only lawyer I know.”
“He reviewsmalpractice policies.”
“He went to law school. It’s the same degree.”
More laughter.
From both of them.
My own sister and my accidental wife, bonding over my suffering.
It had continued like that for the entire drive. Athena talking, Vivian asking follow-up questions, me slowly dying inside while maintaining a death grip on the door handle.
By the time we’d reached The Meridian, I was ready to open the car door and tuck-and-roll onto the highway.
But I’d walked Athena inside instead. Booked her a room. Paid for three nights, because apparently that was what you did when you accidentally married someone and needed time to figure out how to un-marry them.
“You don’t have to do this,” she’d said, looking up at me with those wide, earnest eyes. “I can find somewhere else to stay. Maybe a hostel? Or I could sleep in a park. I’ve done that before. Very grounding. Really connects you to the Earth’s energy.”
“You’re not sleeping in a park.”
“The universe would protect me.”
“The universe,” I’d said, very carefully, “has done enough.”
She’d smiled at that. A soft, genuine smile that made something in my chest do an uncomfortable flip.
“Thank you,” she’d said. “For this. For being kind even though you’re scared.”
“I’m not scared.”
“You’re terrified. I can see it in your aura. All these jagged red lines, like lightning. But underneath...” She’d tilted her head, studying me. “Underneath there’s blue. Calm blue. You just can’t reach it right now.”
I’d wanted to argue.
To tell her that auras weren’t real, that she was seeing pareidolia, that the human brain was designed to find patterns even where none existed.
But I’d been too tired.
So I’d just handed her the room key and left.
Now, standing in my apartment,myapartment, my sanctuary, my perfectly ordered space. I finally,finallyallowed myself to breathe.
Silence.
