Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. -Norman Cousins
"The Rabbit bounded away with the Fox snapping at his cottontail," as my fingers guided the tie to the correct length.
"Once Around the Tree, the Fox Chased the Rabbit. Twice Around the Tree, They Ran. The Rabbit Scooted Under a Bush, Away From the Fox the Little Rabbit Got Away! And Dove Right Into the Safety of His Cool, Dark Hole," it was a very helpful way to remember how to tie a tie.
Despite wearing this thing every day, I still had no clue how to tie it without singing the lullaby. Once I finished putting on the rest of my suit, I ventured downstairs to where I could already smell the wonderful breakfast my wife was preparing.
"Nice of you to join us Castiel," I was met with the lips of the most beautiful woman in the world, Ms Amelia Novak.
"Eww, get a room you two," my 13-year-old daughter said in disgust.
Amelia and I laughed at our daughter as she covered her eyes. Claire was just 13 and was starting to display some attraction to boys, yet she insisted on sticking with the beliefs that boys and girls shouldn't be together, let alone kiss. She'd be in for a surprise once I broke out the old birds and a bees talk. Without Amelia and I being in love, she would not be here.
Amelia and I were both 30. Yes, that meant that we had Claire when we were 17. But we loved each other very much then, and we still loved each other very much now. We were soulmates, and we had the bond to prove it. Soon, Claire would too. Once she was 15 of course. Though sometimes the bond could take longer to develop.
"Don't forget that it'll be your turn soon," I laughed.
"Eww, no. Gross!" she pinched her nose causing more laughter to erupt from her mother and me.
Those sounds of happiness were wiped off soon when I began to convulse. Pain controlled every movement of mine converting it into spasms. I fell to my knees squeezing my wife's hand as I struggled to breathe. Screams began to erupt from my mouth as I felt something clawing at my skin. My clothes began to get wet with my blood in the process. To my side, Claire and her mother knelt by me as they watched in horror at what was happening.
I threw Amelia's hand away and started to drag my nails along the floor in a desperate attempt to do anything. I couldn't think straight. The pain was too much. And this was something that happened regularly now.
There was nothing they could do. All I could hope was that my secondary soulmate would get to safety before they killed me while I felt like a rabbit being eaten by a fox.
It wasn't unheard of. To have a second soulmate. It could happen to anyone. Regardless of their beliefs or situations. Usually, it leads to polyamorous relationships. Or it happened before a bad breakup or death of a soulmate.