A Stranger at the Table

A stranger sat at her table, claiming to be her soulmate.

Clara froze mid-bite, her fork hovering inches from her mouth. She blinked at the man seated across from her, trying to piece together how he had gotten there. She hadn’t heard him come in. The café was bustling with noise—clinking cups, murmured conversations, and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine—but his voice had cut through it all like a blade.

“I’m sorry, what?” she asked, lowering her fork.

The man smiled, his expression calm and assured, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. He had sharp cheekbones, dark eyes that seemed to hold galaxies within them, and a leather-bound journal resting on the table beside his hand. He looked like someone who belonged in a novel rather than in her life.

“I said,” he repeated patiently, “I’m your soulmate.”

Clara’s first instinct was to laugh. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Is this some kind of prank? Did my friends put you up to this?”

He shook his head. “No prank. No joke.” His voice was steady, almost soothing. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

The Uninvited Guest

Clara glanced around the café, half-expecting someone to jump out with a camera and yell gotcha! But no one seemed to be paying them any attention. She returned her gaze to the stranger. “You can’t just sit down at someone’s table and say something like that,” she said, trying to keep her tone firm despite the odd flutter in her chest.

“I had to,” he replied simply. “You wouldn’t have believed me otherwise.”

“You’re right—I don’t believe you now,” she shot back.

He chuckled softly, leaning forward slightly. “I know this is strange. I know you don’t remember me yet. But I remember you.”

“Remember me?” Clara echoed, her skepticism growing by the second. “We’ve never met.”

“Not in this life,” he said with a small smile. “But in others? We’ve met countless times.”

The Claim

Clara stared at him, unsure whether she should feel flattered or call security. “This is insane,” she muttered under her breath.

“It feels that way at first,” he admitted. “But deep down, you’ve always known there was someone out there meant for you. Haven’t you?”

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped short. His words struck a nerve she didn’t want to acknowledge—a quiet longing she’d buried beneath years of practicality and cynicism.

“I don’t even know your name,” she said finally.

“Ethan,” he replied without hesitation. “And yours is Clara.”

Her stomach dropped. She hadn’t told him her name.

“How do you know that?” she demanded, her voice sharper now.

“I told you—I’ve been looking for you,” Ethan said calmly. “I’ve followed every thread of fate that led me here.”

The Doubt

Clara pushed back in her chair slightly, putting some distance between them. “You sound like a stalker.”

“I’m not a stalker,” he said quickly, his expression earnest now. “I know this sounds crazy—believe me, I do—but I swear I’m telling you the truth.”

“And what truth is that?” she asked warily.

“That we’re soulmates,” Ethan said again, his voice softer this time as if he were sharing a secret meant only for her ears. “We’ve been connected across lifetimes—always finding each other no matter where or when we are.”

Clara shook her head, laughing nervously. “This is ridiculous.”

“Is it?” he asked gently. “Or is it exactly what you’ve been waiting for?”

She wanted to dismiss him outright—to tell him he was delusional and walk away—but something about him kept her rooted to the spot. There was a familiarity in his gaze, an unspoken understanding that made her chest ache in a way she couldn’t explain.

“What do you want from me?” she asked finally.

“Just one conversation,” Ethan said. “Let me tell you everything—about us, about our past lives—and if you still don’t believe me after that, I’ll leave you alone.”

Clara hesitated. Every logical part of her screamed that this was absurd—that she should get up and walk away—but curiosity had already sunk its claws into her.

“One conversation,” she agreed reluctantly.

The Stories Unfold

Ethan’s eyes lit up with gratitude as he began to speak—spinning tales of love and loss that felt both foreign and familiar. He described their past lives with vivid detail: how they had met as artists in Paris during the Renaissance; how they were childhood friends in a small village during the Victorian era; how they had fought side by side as warriors in ancient Greece.

Each story drew Clara deeper into his world—a world where love transcended time and space, where their souls danced together through different eras and identities.

“I remember your laughter,” he said softly, his gaze locked onto hers as if searching for something hidden within her heart. “It was always like music—a melody that resonated deep within my soul.”

Clara felt warmth spread through her chest at his words—a flicker of recognition igniting something long dormant inside her.

“But why now?” she asked after a moment of silence filled with unspoken emotions. “Why are we meeting here? Why not before?”

Ethan sighed softly as if carrying the weight of countless lifetimes on his shoulders. “Because this is your moment of choice—a crossroads where you can decide whether to embrace your true self or continue living in fear of what might be.”

The Choice

“What do you mean?” Clara pressed, feeling both intrigued and apprehensive.

“You’ve been living a life dictated by others’ expectations—your job, your relationships—they don’t reflect who you truly are.” He paused for emphasis before continuing. “You’ve felt it deep down; there’s more waiting for you beyond these walls.”

Clara’s heart raced as his words resonated within her—echoes of thoughts she had pushed aside for far too long while chasing conventional dreams instead of following her heart’s desires.

“What if I choose differently?” she whispered, vulnerability creeping into her voice.

“Then we’ll find each other again,” Ethan promised with unwavering certainty. “Love never truly fades; it simply waits until we’re ready to embrace it once more.”

A Leap of Faith

As their conversation flowed effortlessly between them—filled with laughter and shared glances—Clara began to see glimpses of a future painted with vibrant colors rather than muted tones dictated by fear and doubt.

With each story Ethan told—their past lives intertwining like threads weaving through time—she felt herself shedding layers of uncertainty and embracing a sense of freedom that had eluded her for years.

“I want to believe you,” Clara admitted finally, vulnerability spilling from her lips like an open book laid bare before him.

Ethan reached across the table and took her hand gently in his own—a gesture so simple yet profound that it sent shivers down Clara’s spine.

“You don’t have to believe everything right away,” he said softly. “Just allow yourself to feel—to explore what’s possible when we open our hearts to love again.”

The Connection Deepens

As they sat together amidst the café’s bustling atmosphere—time slipping away unnoticed—Clara began to feel an undeniable connection blossoming between them—a bond forged through shared experiences beyond this lifetime.

The sun dipped lower outside the window, casting warm golden rays across their table as if illuminating their conversation with divine light—a sign that perhaps fate had indeed conspired to bring them together at just this moment in time.

“What happens next?” Clara asked quietly after what felt like hours spent lost in each other’s eyes.

Ethan smiled knowingly—a smile that held promises yet unspoken—and replied softly: “We take it one step at a time.”

A New Beginning

With newfound courage swelling within her heart like an awakening tide, Clara realized that perhaps this stranger wasn’t just some random encounter but rather a pivotal moment leading toward something extraordinary—a journey filled with endless possibilities waiting just beyond the horizon.

And so they continued talking late into the evening—sharing dreams and fears while weaving together threads of destiny until the café began closing around them—the world outside fading into twilight as their connection deepened beyond mere words spoken over coffee cups.

As they finally stood up from their table—hands still intertwined—their hearts beat in sync like an ancient rhythm echoing through time itself—a promise whispered between two souls destined to find each other once more amidst life’s beautiful chaos.

With every step they took together into the unknown future ahead—Clara knew without doubt that this was only the beginning of their story—a tale woven through lifetimes where love would always triumph over fear—and where two souls would forever remain connected across time and space.

Ragan Rooks

@Rpadalecki101

Destin, Fl

Ragan Rooks has not written a story.