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Amias

Will it ever glow for me?

I cup the sweet, star-shaped flower, its size nearly as big as one hand. Vibrant, pink petals settle against my fingers, while the white dot in the middle seems to twinkle, almost as if to tease me. My heart can't stop jumping for fear that it might not work, or in excitement that it just might.

For years I’ve wanted to see it glow; not for everyone else, but for me and the someone I love.

If it showed me that I had found some sort of love bond, I would be thrilled!

I would have reached a level of life I never thought I'd see.

All the joys I've seen from love; laughter, intimacy, and increased beauty of life, would finally be a part of my world.

Just please, amare flower. Glow for me tonight.

“Amias!”

I snap my focus to the man in front of me, who's wearing a giant smile on his face. His chestnut-colored eyes, nearly the same color as his skin, seem to twinkle even in the shade of the cherry blossom looming over us.

“You nervous for the date?”

“A little.” I glance back at the flower I grew from my magic. The petals droop, wilting as my mind races. An ache builds in my chest as the vibrant pink turns gray.

I brush petals of the dying flower through my fingers, and then off my cream-colored slacks. Little crumbs of them remain on the white bench we’re sitting on. I refocus on Glaide. “I'm sure it'll go okay.” I tug on my white collared shirt and adjust the suspenders that match the shade of my pants.

“I'm sure it will. You're a great guy.” Glaide nudges my shoulder with a small chuckle. “I can't imagine you going on so many dates with no girl liking you.”

I snort before hunching my shoulders, doubts infiltrating my thoughts. What if it never works out? “Dating doesn't seem to be going right. You know, this will be the fiftieth date I've been on?” And almost none of them lead to second dates.

“It just takes patience,” Glaide shrugs. His pocket then buzzes. He takes out his phone, an orange glow blinking from the fire symbol on the back. After a few clicks on the screen, he makes eye-contact with me again. “Well, I have to meet Ivy to get ready. Want to get going?”

I push myself off the bench. “Yeah, it’s probably for the better.”

Glaide shuts off his phone and puts it in his pocket. I grunt, wondering how long he has until his cheap three-year CaeCae charge runs out on that phone. I much prefer my HonOpus charge enchantment that lasts for five years.

We stroll away from the cherry blossom tree and to the middle of the city square of Vota.

A bird whistler guides white doves to tie garlands of roses and amare flowers to every streetlamp, connecting them into a square.

The fountain in the center spews pink-tinted water, with scarlet ignise lilies floating awaiting their pistils to be lit like candles.

People set up tents and trucks on both sides of the sidewalk and the smells of hot oil and sugar instinctively make me lick my lips.

Amare flowers line the pathways in handmade pots, the sweet aroma of them melting into the other smells.

Part of me wishes I was back beneath that cherry-blossom. I feel like I'm being roasted under Estrella's star. The star is always unbearable at the start of the year.

This might turn out in our favor for tonight thankfully. People come from all around the Amara kingdom just for this event.

“Are you planning on talking to Maya tonight?” Glaide asks, as he wipes his dripping forehead with his tight black tee.

He really had to bring up talking to Maya.

I titter, running my hands through my sandy and now sweaty, blonde hair. I’d rather not discuss my brother Erasmus, and his soulmate, Maya, even if this whole festival is their soulmate celebration.

It's something that leaves a pit in my stomach when it crosses my mind. Worst yet, it’s a city-wide event instead of a house party or a little family gathering like for everyone else.

It's something special for the child of Amara, the Gift of Lover herself, to find their soulmate, and with her having such a small family, it's a rarity.

There's also the fact that it's impossible for me to have a soulmate, so he'll be the only one of this generation. The next time this will happen is with his own kids.

“We’ll see,” I reply to Glaide. I'm a little reluctant when it comes to Maya.

I don't want to talk to her and make it a point not to.

It's not because she's a bad person or anything.

It's that she's a reminder that I'll never live up to my brother's standards.

Erasmus is a military hero, highly praised for his achievements by all the family.

Handsome and charismatic, he now has a beautiful soulmate to go along with it all.

I'm none of those. Everyone sees me as a brewing villain. To them, it must be the reason I have no soulmate. After all, I should have one considering that my grandmother is the Gift of Love herself. Why wouldn't her own grandson receive her gift of having a soulmate?

The rumors say I'm the uglier sibling that will succumb to those filthy dreamscreechers and become their puppet. They say I'll lust for them and leave the kingdom in shambles for them to enjoy.

Dreamscreechers. Their name leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, reminding me of their horrific screech and their worship of the Gift of Dreams. How could anyone think I'd support them?

But maybe I can prove them wrong. I'm meeting with this girl I met online on Soul-dates after a month-long search for another good match.

One would think being the descendant of not only the Gift of Love but also Cosmo, the creator of life itself and our planet Adoro, would make things easier. It seems to be making it harder.

But this girl seems lovely. She has very cute dirty blonde waves and bright green eyes, paired with a good sense of humor and positive attitude. Maybe she can be the one who suits me at last.

Maybe a small connection can pull us a long way. If it could just glow a little bit when we both touch the flower, even if we're not soulmates, it would be enough.

“Good luck on your date,” Glaide smiles as he walks towards his car, the opposite from the city square where I'm heading. I wave after him.

I dig in my pocket for my phone, taking out the invisible device.

Pressing on a silver button to make the glass screen appear, I look at the time.

I should really get going. It’s setting one.

I helped the vendors this morning by making the garlands, and yet there's so much more to do.

My family will probably need my help in other preparations and I need to get ready for my date.

Time is going to go by so quickly and the celebration will be here before I know it.

Hopefully I'll finally get to see my flower glow….