There was only one absolute fact that we all grew up with. Nothing else was a solid fact as far as anyone was concerned, religion was just faith, science could be disproven and family ties could be broken. Imagine that, growing up knowing that only one thing in your life was certain, there was one event that was going to happen no matter what you did, discovering your soulmate. You could find out when you turn 21 or you would find out the moment before you die.

Of course, many people find out at 21. But it’s a risk. You could find out and realise that your soulmate also chose to find out and that they are looking for you, to start your life together, which would be the best result. Or you could find out only to discover that they don’t want to know you, or that they are a psychopath and you don’t want to know them. But you are stuck together, at least mentally. You don’t actually have to meet if you don’t want to. You would just live your life hearing each other’s thoughts.

There are stories, many of them, about the first generation. The first people who realised they could hear another person’s thoughts in their minds. They were considered odd at first, by those that came before them. They became obsessed with finding out who they were hearing in their minds, some traveling across the world to find their other half. Although there were some that didn’t react well to having someone else in their mind, they went half mad. Some killed themselves, some killed their soulmates then themselves once they realised what they had done.

But that was in the olden days, way back in the 21st century. Times and technology were much better now. After 150 years people were much better adjusted and knew what to expect from a young age. My parents chose to find out when they were 21. Well, my dad made the decision but then found out that his soulmate was under 21. In that situation, you only get glimpses of your soulmate, as your other half is still switched off. If your other half is 21 and chose not to find out then all you get is whatever the mental version of static feels like. He waited for a couple of years for my mum to reach 21, hoping that she would make the same decision. She did, as you could probably guess. They met, fell in love and the rest is history.

So why am I tell you all this? Well, my name is Melanie and today is my 21st birthday. I’m sitting in a room with a set of buttons. I haven’t made my choice yet. I don’t know what I will decide. Honestly, it’s just cruel, only giving us this one chance to find out who our other half is. If I make the wrong choice here then I am stuck with it for the rest of my life. What should I do? What if I don’t know who my soulmate is? What if I do know them and I don’t get on with them? I don’t want to regret my choice. It seems a little off that you only have this one chance to open the bond between you. But that was the way it works.

I’m not seeing anyone at the moment, no partner to speak of, so I don’t have to worry about finding out that the person I love wasn’t made for me. I don’t know why I am hesitating, my parents always told me about how wonderful being with your soulmate can be. They made it sound like a fairy-tale. But I’ve been doing some research, looking into people’s experiences with their choice. It can go wrong, very wrong. I don’t want that to happen to me. That’s the thing that is stopping me, there is no way to predict what will happen. It’s a blind choice.

Ok. That is enough debate. I need to press a button. Who knows what will happen if I don’t make a decision. I’ve made my choice. I’ll press a button.

Not one to do things by halves, I slam my hand down on a button.

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