Trey licks his lips, then drags a hand through his dark hair. Three nights ago, I dreamt that I ran my hands through his hair as he laid his head in my lap. I can’t remember what we were talking about, but it made him laugh a lot. I’d like to hear that laugh in real life.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he says.

“I’m glad you are too. You looked pretty rough that night—with your arm in a cast.” I added in that last part as a subtle attempt to get him to explain his magical fast-healing arm.

He doesn’t. Instead, he crinkles his eyebrows together. “You got to visit me?”

“Yeah. I recognized Liz out in the hall and asked if I could. She didn’t tell you?”

He huffs out a breath. “Nope.”

“She asked me a weird question that night.” I’m getting tired of standing with the door open, allowing all my precious air conditioning to escape, so I step out and shut the door behind me.

Then I lean my back against the door and stick my hands into my dress pockets.

“She asked me if I believe in soul mates.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That I haven’t put much thought into the concept.”

He shifts his attention to the ground. “I see.”

“What about you? Do you believe in soul mates?”

“I didn’t used to.”

I arch my eyebrows. “But you do now?”

A nod.

“What changed your mind?”

He stares deep into my eyes, almost like he’s trying to stare into my soul.

“I met someone who didn’t just change my mind—she changed everything for me.

Before her, I didn’t think I was capable of falling in love.

Even more, I didn’t think anyone could ever fall in love with me.

She proved I was wrong, and being with her made me believe in soul mates. ”

“Liz told me she believes soul mates are connected to each other emotionally and physically. Do you believe that too?”

“Yes,” he says without any hesitation.

“Do you also believe that not all soul mates end up together?”

He chuckles humorlessly under his breath. “I think you might have had the same conversation with Liz that she had with me last night. She told me that being someone’s soul mate means your souls are perfectly matched for each other but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end up together.

“She said that sometimes, soul mates are only together for a brief moment, like it’s the right person but the wrong time or situation. She said that many things can tear soul mates apart, like geographical location, certain laws, death, and even unforeseen circumstances.”

Do the unforeseen circumstances he’s talking about have anything to do with falling through a portal into an alternate universe, tearing him away from Alterella?

I pull my long braid to one shoulder. “What do you think happens to those people who lose their soul mates? Are they just doomed to be alone forever?”

“That’s the same question I asked Liz last night. She said most people never find their soul mates. Instead, they find a compatible partner, someone who makes them happy but they aren’t a perfect match.”

“So is that what you’re going out in the world to find? A compatible partner?”

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair again. “No, I want to find my place in the world.”

“What if your place in the world is the one you’re about to leave?”

“If that was the case, then why do I feel like I don’t belong?”

I imagine Trey as a lost soul, floating around the earth as a little orb, looking for a place to land. What if his soul never finds the place where he belongs? Will he just float around for all eternity? Finally, I say, “Well, Trey, I hope you find what you’re looking for out there.”

Somberly, he says, “Me too.”

“Will you send me a postcard from wherever you end up?”

He gives me a slow nod. “Sure.”

“Do you need me to write down my address for you?”

“Nah. I can figure it out.”

“Okay.” I place a hand on my doorknob but make no effort to turn it.

A part of me doesn’t want this to end; however, Caleb will be getting home from the gym soon, and I don’t want to find out what happens if he sees Trey here.

He might actually push that restraining-order thing through.

I don’t know why, but I just don’t feel like it’s necessary.

It especially isn’t now that Trey is moving. “I suppose this is goodbye then.”

Trey’s entire face falls, and the dim light in his eyes turns dimmer. His shoulders go taut, then suddenly, he doesn’t look like he’s breathing anymore.

What did I say wrong? “Trey?”

He doesn’t answer. I’m not even sure if he heard me.

I say his name again, a little louder. “Trey?”

His gaze flicks up to me, and my breath hitches. He’s looking at me, but I’m unsure if he’s actually seeing me. There’s a hollowness in his eyes that wasn’t there before. I feel a need to go to him, to cup his face in my hands and tell him that everything will be okay.

I resist the urge. “Don’t forget about the postcard, okay?”

He blinks slowly, as if he’s trying to process my words. Once he does, he swallows, then nods. “I won’t.”

“I’ll look forward to getting it.”

A long silence sits between us. I can’t bring myself to go back inside. I know I should though. On the other hand, I want to soak up every second with this man. I want to understand him and know what happened to bring him into my life. Why do I feel this strong connection to him?

Trey clears his throat. “I can’t leave. Not while you’re still standing out here.”

“Do you need me to go inside?”

He gives me a slight nod with that hollow look still in his eyes.

“Okay.” I turn the doorknob my hand has been holding for a while. “Goodbye, Trey.”

He doesn’t say goodbye back. All he does is stare at me longingly as I step back into my apartment and shut the door.