A stranger sat at her table claiming to be her soulmate, but Ava did not even know this person. The young woman sat in front of her looked barely old enough to get served in a bar.


Ava placed her head in her palms. "Sorry, your name again?"


"Eliana," the young woman replied.


"And we're soulmates?" Ava questioned with a furrowed brow.


"That's correct," Eliana stated, her tone never changing.


Ava reached for the wine bottle and filled herself a glass. "Eliana, look around you. I have a husband. I have three kids; one of which is probably older than you. I don't know who you are but I am not your soulmate."


Elaina's expression never faulted. "Yes, your husband, George is a great man who loves football, I can't wait to see him. Rosie, Thomas and Beatrice sound like wonderful children. They are doing so well at school."


"Rosie is at-"


Eliana cut Ava off, "University. Studying geology, you must be so proud."


"What do you want Eliana? How do you know my family?


"I told you, Ava, we're soulmates."


"I'm telling you, we are not. Did Thomas put you up to this? Are you in his class? You're not that dim-witted girl he's been seeing are you?" If Ava was hoping for a reaction on Elaina's petite face, she saw none.


"Thomas is wonderful isn't he? Used to be so mischievous." Eliana did smile then. It was a smile of recognition as if she recounted her own fond memories of Thomas pranking his friends.


"So it is Thomas you're here to see. He'll be back from the game soon with George."


"I will have enough time to see Thomas and George, Ava. I am here to see you. We are soulmates."


"So you keep saying," Ava replied dryly.


Before Eliana could reply the front door opened and Ava beamed. She raised a finger for the young woman to remain put as she left the dining room to greet her husband and son.


"Honey, how was the match?" She hugged her husband. George grumbled "We lost," in response. Ava turned to Thomas, "Thomas, one of your girlfriends is in the other room. She's quite a strange one."


"Rachel's here?" Thomas's face lit up and he pushed past his mother.


"No. Eliana," Ava called after him. George swallowed a lump in his throat at the sound of that name but no one paid him any attention.


Thomas turned back to face her as he reached for the door handle, "I don't know anyone called Eliana." He opened the door, anxious to know why a girl he did not know would be interested in him. He turned back to his mother, "Mum, there's no one here!" He called disappointingly.


"Impossible, I left her at the table."


"Well, unless you scared her into jumping out of the window she is not here."


George hugged Ava and they followed Thomas down the hall. "So, who is this Eliana?" He said with a brave face.


"Honestly, I have no idea," Ava replied. "But she seems to know who we are. I thought she was one of Tom's friends"


They searched the house for Eliana and concluded she really was gone. Ava was relieved but curiosity still struck her chords.


"Maybe she snuck out of the back door," George offered.


"Maybe," Ava repeated, unconvinced.


***


Later that night, Ava has trouble sleeping with her mind whirling with emotions. She went downstairs for a glass of water while George slept and froze as she passed the door to the dining room.


There she was. Eliana was once again sat at the dining room table.


"Excuse me, what are you still doing here?"


Eliana looked up at her with her expressionless stare, "I can't leave, Ava. Not until you accept the truth."


"We are not soulmates, Eliana. Please leave my house this instance.


"I'm afraid that's not possible, Ava. Please, take a seat."


"In my own house, thank you," Ava spoke with sarcasm but Eliana either did not recognise it or ignored it.


"You're welcome, Ava." She stared deep into Ava's eyes. Her own were such a bright, almost illuminating blue it made the older woman very uncomfortable. "Why are you hiding from reality, Ava? This is only the start of a truly wonderful beginning."


"You don't have to say my name at the end of each sentence... Eliana," Ava crossed her arms.


"I am here to guide you to-" Eliana suddenly stopped mid sentence and looked towards the ceiling. There was movement above them.


"Eliana, it's very late. You can sleep on the sofa if you like but you need to go home in the morning. Where do your parents think you are?" Ava stood up to leave the room. "There's some sheets in the utility, let me just go and get them."


Eliana was still motionless staring up at the ceiling listening to the sounds of George walking around the bedroom as Ava left. She did not say another word.


"These should do nicely. Just be cautious of Thomas. He means well but he is a teenage boy after all..." Ava stopped as she re-entered the dining room. Once again Eliana was gone. Ava searched in the front room but there was no sign of her in there either. She sat on the sofa with the sheets to contemplate what was happening.


***


George returned to the bedroom from the ensuite and stood silently as the familiar young woman appeared sat on the edge of his bed. "Eliana, why are you here?"


Eliana glared at him. "Why are you and Ava not being truthful with each other, George? Why are you lying to your wife and to yourself?"


"George paced the room to stand in front of her, "I am not lying to my wife. How do you think she would have handled the truth if I had told her about you?"


"You cannot run away from this, George. Ava must accept the truth and then she can leave with me and be free from all the pain."


"There must be another way? Someone else who can help us."


"She is my soulmate, George. I must be there for her when the time comes. There is no other way now."


Suddenly, George broke down into tears. "How do you think I was supposed to handle the truth? What good did you think it would do coming to me?"


Eliana raised her voice a little, "I have tried to make this easy on you, George. Ava's time is up. It is time to say goodbye.


"No, please! There must be another way?" George pleaded. He reached out to grab the hem of Eliana's skirt but the woman had already vanished and George found himself clutching at the bed sheets instead.


"Are you ok, love?" Ava asked from the doorway.


George wiped his face and quickly composed himself. "Yes, honey. Just a vivid dream I think." He looked around the room for Eliana but saw no sign.


"Everything is going to be alright," Ava said reassuringly.


***


The next morning when Ava was alone in the house she made herself a cup of tea and sat down at the dining room table to look through some photograph albums.


"They truly are special children, Ava," came the familiar monotone.


Ava closed the album and stared at Eliana. "I don't know you. Why are you in my house?"


Eliana's face remained expressionless. "My name is Eliana. I am your soulmate. I am here to guide you to new beginnings."


Ava sat back in her chair while watching the young woman. "Soulmates? I have a husband..."


"Yes, George, and three children. One of whom is in university. You must be so proud." Eliana said undeterred.


Memories of a familiar conversation began flooding Ava's mind. "Eliana?" She asked as if meeting an old friend. "How many times have you sat in that chair talking to me?


Eliana did a quick calculation, "Forty-Three times in the last twenty-seven days, Ava. I am your soulmate and it is your time to come with me."


"When?" Ava asked nervously.


"Tomorrow," Eliana said coolly.


"I don't know if I'm ready, Eliana." Ava tried to fight the tear in her eye.


"You and George have worked tirelessly for the past six months to prepare for this. George struggled with acceptance but I can see he has seen to it that your funeral will be perfect. Telling the children was a brave choice. They will accept it in their own ways."


"And what's your role in this?"


Eliana softened her look, she was not fully adept to human emotions but she could see Ava was still not prepared for death. "Your human doctors have unfortunately discovered your time on earth would not be of significant length. Saint Michael has tasked me, a soul mate, to ensure your safe passage to the higher place where you will be welcomed into an eternity of peace. I for one am looking forward to that return."


Thousands of thoughts crossed Ava's mind but the one only question she could verbalise was, "So you're not one of Tom's friends?"


"Thomas is a wonderful young man, but no, I am thousands of years old with a different concept of relations. I am here for you, Ava, and you alone."


"So this is it? Tomorrow I die?"


"Tomorrow your soul leaves your body but no one truly dies. You will be free in the higher place."


"Thank you, Eliana. May I please have a moment?"


"As you wish, Ava." Eliana vanished from view.


Ava glanced down at her photo albums again and reached for the drawer to her right which contained letters and funeral plans. It was all true, she had been planning her own departure from this world. Eliana had been there the whole time but she had been closing the angel out, denying the truth.


***


That night Ava kissed George for the final time. She did not tell him of her conversation with Eliana. She wanted their final night together to be memorable for George. They held each other closely until they drifted off to sleep.


The next morning Ava was awoken by the familiar voice. "It's time to go, Ava," Eliana's angelic form shimmered over the sleeping couple.


Ava felt light, in fact, she felt better than she had in weeks. "I'm ready," she whispered and took Eliana's hand. She stood up and noticed she was wearing a white robe. Immediately she turned back towards the bed and saw herself lying peacefully next to George.


"We will meet again, my love," she leaned over and kissed her husband on the forehead before turning back to the angel. A portal of light opened and she followed her soulmate through and disappeared.


***