As kids we often learn why we feel the way we do in certain things. We are taught what feelings are "appropriate" in certain situation. That when you get hurt it's natural to feel pain, or when you love someone other than your parents and family. But the not even the best of parents can teach you how to have your own feelings in a society that controls everyone else's. Where I'm from you're taught how to "feel" emotions through a book. You read about each emotion, which situation to use it in and when not to use it. To me it never made sense.
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"Bryer, honey, it's time to wake up. Don't want to be late for your first day at Herst!" I roll over and groan. I grab the covers and sleepily pull them over my head. Trying to drown out the sound of the early morning rush of the house. Even though the door to my room is slightly cracked open I can still hear the noise of everyone running around outside my door. Everyone seems frantic. Like they've completely lost their minds.
I slowly push the covers from over my head. I groan as I slowly sit up, wiping the sleep still clinging to my eyes. I glance over at my alarm clock. It's only 6:54 am. Why is everyone in such a rush? School doesn't start until 8:45am. I half heartedly get out of bed and walk over to my door. Just as I reached out to grab the knob of my door, Caleb (my brother) barges in and almost knocks me over. "Hey! Watch it dweeb!" I looked at him as I stumbled backward a bit. "Sorry sis! Mom wanted me to see if you were awake yet" and with that he bolted toward the stairs. I shook my head. Even though he was only 3 years young than I was, he still had the energy of a 6 year old.
As I walked down the stair , I could smell the sweet smell of syrup on waffles with a hint of chocolate chip. Mmh. My favorite.
As I got to the end of the stairs I could hear mom yelling at Caleb. I couldn't tell what she was yelling about but it didn't sound good. I smiled. The normal morning routine, just today isn't normal. It's my first day at Herst. Herst is a school for everyone 15 years and older. You go to Herst for a minimum of 6 years (21 years old). Depending on your skill level you may get to go later or earlier. It also depends on the career path you have been given by the Capitol. There you learn about all the life skills you will need in order to live in your own and successfully be able to do your career path chosen for you.. My brother would be joining me there next year. This is his last year at Hillard.
As I approach the kitchen Mom looks at me and smiles. "Do you not realize what today is Sweety? Or have you forgotten!?" My mother looks at me with joy filled eyes. Am I forgetting something? She looks at me and smiles. Obviously noticing my confusion. "IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY SILLY! TODAY YOU MAY GET YOUR SOULTAT!" My mother almost jumping out of her skin in joy while saying those last words. A soultat is a term used to indicate someone soul tattoo. The tattoo usually appears around the ages of 16 to 20. No many people get them before 16 but some cases have been reported of it. A soul tat is a tattoo located anywhere on a persons body that allows them to identify their "soulmate." The other person will have a matching tat in the same spot. When they get close to each other or meet the tattoos will glow and that will signify a match. That will notify the Capitols of the new match and you both will be brought before them to signify and to certify the match and set the marriage date. It is said that you will love the other person from the moment you all meet. It's my 17th birthday and I have yet to have my tattoo. The tattoo is said to appear when it is time. Well obviously it hasn't been my time yet.
Lucky for my brother he was one of the rare cases and has already gotten his Soultat. His is located on his forearm, just above his elbow. It's a dragon curling around a sword. The dragon is breathing a small flame of fire and seems to be guarding the sword. The dragon is a deep red with what seems to be gold detailing of the mane and tail tip. The sword is silver with a rustic look to it. At the bottom it says "fσrtíѕ" which means "brave" in Latin. Caleb thinks it's a sign that his soulmate may be from Latin decent. (He's always had a thing for Latin girls since he was little.) He's always showing everyone his Soultat. Lucky him.
As 7:00 rolls around I start to get ready for school. I grab a pair of my dark jeans (my favorite), one of my t-shirts that I got this summer, and one of my favorite hoodies. My hoodie has a wolf on the front howling at the moon under a night sky. If I got to choose what my soultat looked like I would put a wolf in it, but sadly I can't choose that. I glance over at my nightstand where my phone lays. I decide I should probably check it. I reached over and grabbed it. (It's an iPhone 6.) I turned the phone screen over in my hand. Instantly I got a text from Kyla, my best friend.
R u ready 4 tday?! :) -Kyla
I chuckled. She always seems to have the perfect timing. I unlocked my phone and clicked my messages. I clicked her name and typed a response back.
Ig so... Not really. Kinda nervous! - Bry
Aww come on! It's not tht bad!! - Kyla
Ok. If u say so! b ready @8. I'll txt u when I'm on my way! - Bry.
Ok! C u soon! -Kyla
Kyla always knows how to make things seem better. Her and I have been friends since I moved to Hawthorn Ridge about 6 years ago. We've been best friends ever since. Just like Caleb, Kyla has her Soultat already. She got hers early, but not as early as Caleb. She just got hers recently and I'm already jealous of it. Her Soultat is of a rose. The turns wrapped around a semi larger cross. Thorns are scattered along the roses stem. The rose is a rich red and the stem is a dark green. The thorns are a little darker of a green shade. The cross is a gold, almost rustic color. It's beautiful. Kyla already found her soulmate. Even though they are too young for marriage just yet, the Capitols still see them as "unified" as if they were. Kyla and her soulmate grew up together because of the relationship between their sets of parents. The parents are best friends with each other and often used to visit, even though they loved only a couple houses down on the same street.
The buzz of my phone interrupts my thoughts. I check the screen. It's Kyla again.
Hey! Srry 4got to say somthing earlier! HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY!!! - Kyla.
Thnks Kyla! - Bry.
Shes always the one super excited when it comes to birthdays. That's why the Capitol assigned her to be a ceremony designer/planner. The Ceremony is when someone is either turning a certain age such as 16 where they are possibly getting their Soultat. Or when someone is bound to marriage and is having a bachelorette/bachelor party. Kyla is great at stuff like that, which is why she is perfect for it.
YOU ARE READING
SoulMates
RomanceWhat happens when everyone says you'll love them at first site but when you meet, you don't feel anything? What if you have feelings for someone else other than him? What will the Capitols tell you? What will they do if they found out?
