A stranger sat down at her table, claiming to be her soulmate. As Marie sat trying to enjoy her breakfast in peace , Marco, a tall dark skinned man continued sitting across from her. Staring. His eyes piercing through her soul. Marie was trying her hardest to ignore the stranger's eerie glare.

Feeling uneasy, Marie kept her head down. Battered and bruised, the petite brunette had been through enough. Now here is this man. A stranger. Just staring at her, as if she was nothing more than an object, a piece of art to be admired, or ridiculed.

His face was emotionless, his lips completely relaxed as he continued to stare at the most beautiful woman he had laid eyes on. He could see Marie had a rough night. The demons she must have fought. The demons in the form of a man. As Marco kept staring he was reading her, not just her body language but he could read her mind. He could feel the hurt in her heart. He could feel her.

As Marie slowly raised her head to lock onto his eyes, Marco sensed every emotion she was feeling. His eyes began to swell when he could feel her pain. Her tormented soul was screaming internally to be left alone. Marco knew she wanted him to leave her, however his conscious or inner voice, something was telling him to stay. He lowered his head to break eye contact for he couldn't handle her pain.

The eerie feeling in Marie was replaced by curiosity. She wondered about this man. She wondered about all men. The last man she laid with became jealous and controlling. He would beat and torture Marie regularly. Last night was no exception to the torture. She snuck away from him during the early hours of the morning and found herself sitting here in this diner, with nothing more than fifty dollars in her pocket. Marie was sitting alone. She was contemplating her life, coming to the conclusion that the only way she could truly escape her abuser was death. Tired and beaten Marie ordered french toast. Although she wasn't feeling hungry, french toast reminded her of the happy childhood she came from. In her tormented mind, french toast will be her last meal. That was until Marco entered the diner.

The diner Marco attended every morning to get his coffee-to-go before continuing to work. This morning when he walked through the diner door, his instantly seen Marie. He felt a strange new emotion. Instead of walking to the counter, he found himself sitting at her table, just staring at her. Watching her hold back tears. He wanted to ask her questions, but he already knew the answers. The anguish he felt was uncanny. He could feel within himself that he loved this stranger, and he could feel in his soul that he was about to lose her. Grief struck him unexpectedly, even though he didn't know her name. He couldn't take his eyes off her as she tried to contain her emotions. He never blinked or brake eye contact until she finally looked up back at him.

When her teary green eyes met his, it sent a cold shover throughout his entire body. He could feel his cheeks swelling, similar to the swollen cheek Marie portrayed. He could feel his ribcage collapsing, assuming Marie had a similar injury. Worst of all, hopelessness and dread rained over him as he started imagining death. He needed to break eye contact before he lost himself in her grief.

Marie continued to stare at him. Watching him lower his head. He looked sad, like she did. He looked broken, like she was. As she watched him a new emotion washed over her. Without saying a word, she felt heard. She wanted to ask who he was, but decided it didn't matter.

Marie slowly, gently moved her plate to the side, exposing his hands resting on the table. Once she moved the plate, she allowed her hand to casually fall inches away from his. Slowly and delicately he reached for her finger tips. The moment their fingertips touched, neither one of them felt dread, or Grief, or torment. Instead they both felt electricity, fulfillment, and a feeling that can only be described as happiness. Marie managed half a smile. Marco couldn't contain his perfect smile. No words needed to be exchanged between the two. Marie could feel him equally. He felt warm, inviting, loving, but mostly she felt safety.

Not wanting to once again be naïve and despite the secure feeling around him, Marie didn't want to be fooled by another man. She sat there staring at him, re-contemplating her life decisions. Before meeting this stranger she was convinced her life was ending within hours. Now her hands laid in his and she wasn't sure how to feel. Fulfillment and emptiness washed over her at the same time. The thought of hurting herself, knowing it would hurt his heart hurt Marie more than an abusive relationship ever could. She could live. Start a new life with a stranger. Trust her life in his hands. She convinced herself this man was her soulmate.


6 months later.


Marie found herself sitting at a table in a diner. Beaten and bruised once again. She sat there contemplating life. As she sat there playing with her french toast, she noticed a broad strange man walking through the diner doors. As the man entered the diner he locked eyes on Marie and gave her a smile.

Marie had been in this position too many times before. She put her faith and her life in Marco and he burned her worse than before she met him. He used her vulnerability and mimicked her emotions to give a false sense of security. He lured her until she put her guard down. Well not this time. Never again will Marie allow a man to convince her of such ridiculous fantasies such as soul mates.

Before the new stranger had a chance to get to know Marie, she pushed her plate away, stood from the table and walked out of the diner.

No one ever knew what happened to Marie after that day.


fin.