Soul Mates

Lindsey arrived at the park for her best friends tenth birthday party. She arrived just as a game of tag began. After wishing her best buddy a quick happy birthday, she took off at a sprint as the tagger had already been picked. At full speed, she glanced over her shoulder, the tagger had targeted her and was much closer than she thought. Digging in she prepared to dodge the tagger when suddenly her face met the ground, air flew from of her lungs. Laid out on the damp grass, bewildered, and trying to catch her breath, Lindsey looked around for the source of her wipeout. She saw a boy about her age pulling himself up from the ground. He had dark, almond shaped eyes. Crunchy leaves and brittle bits of grass clippings clung to his thick, black hair.

“Sorry. I didn’t see you.” She said between haggard breaths, brushing dirt and grass from her clothes. “I was trying to get away before I got tagged.”

“Yeah, I tried getting out of your way.” Trevor responded, peeling dirt from his yellow t-shirt.

The announcement, ‘cake and present time!’ brought Lindsey to her feet. “Again, sorrrry”, she called over her shoulder as she bounded off back towards the party.

Five years later. Lindsey arrived at the yearly Volleyball Showdown and Beach Bonanza. After removing her shoes, she tossed them to the side, and joined her team. The other team served first. Lindsey hunched; legs bent; prepared to spring. The high arced ball came towards her, she threw herself into the air. Her fingertips brushed the ball as it passed over her outstretched hands. Her teammate, standing a few steps behind Lindsey, volleyed the ball: the perfect set up. Again, she sprang up, fully connecting with the ball. Her eyes widened when the ball flew over all the reaching hands of the other team. She watched as the runaway ball slammed into the head of a dark-haired passerby.

Trevor stopped short.

“Sorrrrry.” She hollered out waving towards the stranger.

Trevor gave a slight nod as one of the players ran over to retrieve the loose ball. Lindsey watched the passerby until he walked out of her sight, still smoothing out the side of his face. The game continued, followed by a huge bonfire, giggles ensued as some of her teammates wondered about the poor passerby that had gotten nailed by her fly away ball.

Five more years passed. Lindsey, with her camp chair and mini cooler, finally found a spot amongst the gathering crowd at the local park. After she settled herself, she grabbed a soda from her cooler, and leaned back ready to enjoy the fireworks. A slight breeze cooled the summer air, the sun prepared to set. Lindsey glanced to her right at the clicking sounds of an unfolding chair. She saw a friendly face looking back at her, he smiled and offered and a quick ‘hello’ wave.’ Lindsey responded in kind. A minute later the kind stranger approached her.

“Um, I know this sounds tacky”, he said,” but you look really familiar to me for some reason.”

She knew his words were true, there was something about his thick, dark hair and almond shaped eyes.

“Hmmm, I just can’t place where I’ve seen you.” He said studying her face.

She couldn’t argue the fact she’d met this stranger before, but couldn’t place how, or where. She invited him to move his chair closer. He carried his chair over and sat next to her.

“I’m Trevor.” He said, smiling.

“Hi. I’m Lindsey.” She smiled in kind. “Nice to meet you, Trevor.”