"What seems to be the matter, Eggsy? You've barely touched your food!"

Eight year old Eggsy frowned as he nudged around food on his plate with his fork. He was very unsettled at the confusing thoughts whirling in his head, an uncomfortable feeling settling in his chest.

"Mum… what's a soulmate?"

Michelle startled at the question, eyes widening. "Where did ya hear that word from?"

Eggsy shrugged, poking at his food. "Heard a couple of 'em older kids talkin' abou' it during recess."

"I think that is somethin' you should learn abou' when you are much older, darling." Michelle says slowly, putting her drink down carefully.

"Why?" Eggsy asks stubbornly.

"Because you are much too young for such talk, you will understand when yer older."

"The girls at me school were gushin' all abou' it all lovey-dovey like – like in yer silly soaps wit all the kissing." Eggsy says making a face.

"Eggsy!" Michelle scolds.

"Wot? Tis' true mum."

Michelle sighs, closing her eyes and cursing. Her boy was much too curious for his own good.

"Well… It's like a best friend, but more." Michelle starts uncertainly, trying to explain it in a way that her son would understand.

"Like me best mate, Ryan?"

Michelle laughs softly at the question. "No! Not quite like that."

"I don't understand, mum." Eggsy says groaning in frustration.

"It's…" Michelle sighs, "It's the one person in this world that was made just for you. It's the one person that will know and understand you better than anyone else. A soulmate is someone you will carry with you forever."

Eggsy doesn't say anything for a long time as he stares down at his plate, appetite gone. That strange ache in his chest was back again. The familiar burn and heavy lump in his throat have him swallowing hard to contain the urge to cry at the conflicting emotions.

It's like a phantom pain; the constant feeling like something is missing.

"Eggsy?" Michelle calls out, face creased in concern.

"How do you know you've met yer soulmate?" Eggsy asks quietly.

"Well… It's hard to explain, darling."

"Please, mum." Eggsy begs. "I need to understand."

"Jeez, I don't know what the sudden fuss is all abou'! You're too young to be able to understand these things, Eggsy."

"Please mum, I'll try." Eggsy says, eyeing his mum pleadingly. "I'm a quick study."

Michelle face softens; she never could deny her boy anything.

"You will know as soon as you see them." Michelle starts; a faraway look in her eyes. "You will look at them and instantly know they are the one. There will be this amazing scent that you couldn't possibly miss or ignore, coming from them, which will confirm who they are to you. You'll feel it inside, and you'll just know."

"Was daddy yer soulmate, mum?"

Michelle eyes turned glassy at the whispered question. "Yes he was, baby."

Eggsy stared down at his small fists clenched in his lap, as he took in what his mother had told him. The sudden heaviness of the medal hanging on his chest seemed to weigh more than it did before. Eggsy felt the sudden sense that he was drowning, ears ringing in the silence of his own heartbeats thundering against his ribcage.

"Eggsy!?" Michelle cries out in alarm, jolting out of her seat to steady Eggsy as he sways sideways in his seat.

"Eggsy!"