The Strings That Connect Us

Part 1

The sunlight streams through my window, making everything seem to have an air of innocence. Looking side to side, I blink a few times in surprise. I had forgotten that I had moved to Widowbrook, just a few days before. Boxes still litter my room, tossed across the floor without a care. I rub my eyes, and carefully pick my way through the room. As I step out into the hall, I recoil as my bare feet make contact with the ice-cold floor. Stepping quickly, I make my way to the bathroom to get ready for the first day of my new school. I wrap my brown hair
into a messy bun and bound down the stairs.

My dad is still asleep and has not gotten out of bed for days. I sigh and pull out the picture of my mother. I gently caress the torn edges, "Wish me luck," I bring the picture up to my lips, and can almost smell the complex fragrance of my mother. All lemongrass and jasmine. I stuff the picture back into my pocket and hurry out the door, stopping to get a bagel that my aunt had graciously put near the door. I flag down the bus, throwing my jacket on as I run to the waiting bus. The bus stopped, and I jumped on, slipping down onto the first available seat.

I turn my phone and watch as my hometown friends chat about the latest gossip at my old school. I once again resent my aunt for dragging me and my dad out into this little, rundown town. I live right on the edge of town, and for miles, there are just green grasses. Sometimes I dream about running, running through the fields, to the old bell tower that stands right off the edge of the sunset. I fantasize of never leaving, of never facing my problems, of never facing home.

I snap out of it as the bus finally rounds the corner. My school, Widowbrook High School, is crawling with teenagers. I step off the bus and head toward the school. The steady stream of student flow is keeping me from stopping and taking in the school. I follow the signs on the school's walls that lead me to the office. I open the office door and peek my head in. Sitting at the front desk, was a balding man. He looks up and smiles at me with a toothy grin.

"Hi, there! Is there anything that I can help you with?" He asks me.

"Actually yes, I am a new student and I came to get my schedule." I approach the front desk, biting my lip in anxiety.

"Of course, what's your name?" He asked, shuffling through papers.

"Um, Harper Keyes," I answer, peering over the desk.

"Yes, Harper... Harper," he mumbles to himself, "Ah! Here we go." He hands over a stack of papers that detailed my classes and my locker.

"Thank you," I say, walking out of the office. I follow the numbers listed on the lockers to mine. As I approach my locker, I see a flash of gold in my peripheral. I spin around and walk toward the flash. I round the corner and a little gasp escapes my mouth. A string of gold thread crosses the hall, disappearing out of sight. Barely half an inch in diameter, the thread shines bright, following the boy as he rounds the corner. I stand there in shock. The Threads were rare, and I had just moved here.

I had always seen The Threads my entire life. They connect to that person's soulmate, and the first time that I had ever seen them was with my parents. They had the brightest thread that I had every noticed off of a person. They were utterly in love, and we were the perfect family. I once tried to explain The Threads to my dad. He thought that I was just being a little child, and played my sightings off as foolish antics. I never tried to discuss them to anyone, and have kept the sightings to myself ever since. The only way the threads work is if the people are within 500 feet of each other. I always wondered if I was ever going to find my soulmate. To see the thread extend from me, glowing bright, into the heart of another person. I would see their deep, kind eyes and fall in love right away. I have always wondered and I will always wish for that moment...