THE UNTAMED LUNA

THE BOND

"Think about it, Solidad. How many times did he call you that? I know he told you just how important you were to him. He was adamant about it. He made it clear that you were the only one for him."

Mom nods her head. Still thinking about what she is hearing. Deciding if it was true. But Jolina goes on to explain.

"My husband was the one who completed me, my perfect match. It's an extraordinary connection, unlike any other. When you discover your soul mate, there's an irresistible pull towards them. It's impossible to resist. You crave their presence, needing to be close to them. The more moments you share, the deeper the bond grows. Can you still recall the first time Robert's hand touched yours?"

I noticed that Mom was crying.

"The intensity was overwhelming. I was convinced I had been jolted, yet he persisted in gripping my hand. Gradually, the sensation transformed into a delightful tingling that spread throughout my entire being. From my fingertips to the depths of my soul, the electrifying connection persisted. Our eyes locked, and he held my gaze, unwavering and captivating." Mom says

"That was the soulmate bond. It connects the two of you every time you touch him. Have you ever felt that with anyone else in your life?" Jolina asks.

"No, never." Mom replied.

"And did you feel the tingles every time you touched him?"

"Yes, every time," Mom admits.

"Could you sense him before he came into the room?"

"Of course, I could smell him." Mom tells her.

"Do you have that ability with anyone else you have ever met?"

"Sometimes, I have this uncanny ability to perceive my daughter's presence. It's like an intuitive sense that allows me to locate her within our home. It's not exactly a scent, more like a subtle sensation, although it doesn't possess the same intensity as it did with her father." Mom said.

If what she's saying is true, then that is exactly how I feel about Marvin. He did tell me I was special. But he clearly refuses to touch me?

I continue to listen. I glanced at Marvin. He is looking intently at me. Those powerful eyes are mesmerizing. Jolina turned towards me, then asked, "Abby Jezz, have you ever felt any of these things?"

Should I answer her? She must know the truth. What would Mom say? I can't hide this. I look at Marvin, and he nods his head.

"Yes," I simply state.

Mom looks at me with wide eyes. Then she immediately looked at Marvin. An uncomfortable silence permeates the room. Mom took my hand.

"What have you experienced, sweetie?" Mom asked.

"I can smell Marvin from pretty far away. I thought maybe it was just his cologne. But then I started feeling sick when I wasn't near him. Headaches and sleepless nights. I only have an appetite when he's close. I'm anxious, and my thinking is cloudy until I walk into his classroom." I tell them honestly.

"What about the tingles?" Mom added.

"I don't know; he won't touch me!" I said this with a little irritation in my voice. Mom giggles and then squeezes my hand.

"It took your father two weeks to touch me. I thought I must have leprosy or something."

I chuckled at that, then our attention turned to Marvin. It seemed like he had something to clarify. He just leaned back and stayed quiet. The rest of us fell silent, waiting for Marvin to come clean, until he did.

"From the moment Abby Jezz entered my classroom, I felt an undeniable connection with her. I made a conscious effort to avoid looking at her or being physically close, knowing that these actions only intensified our bond. Despite my precautions, I couldn't prevent the inevitable. By the time I returned home that evening, I could already sense the effects of our connection taking hold, and I knew she must be feeling it too. It pained me to think of her suffering, as the strength of our bond directly correlated with the discomfort we experienced. My mother and I were puzzled by how quickly it had all transpired, considering we hadn't even made physical contact."

Now I just realize that was his purpose. Aside from that, Marvin is really a gentleman. Okay.

"I asked my twin brother to keep her as close as possible so that she wouldn't be in pain. They took her into my classroom at lunchtime. Then they took her over for dinner. We were trying to figure out what could have triggered our deep connection. A profound link was the only way the pull could have been that strong so soon. It was last night that we realized it was because of our connection to you and Robert. Our bond started while you were still pregnant with Abby Jezz."

I had so many questions that came to mind. It's normal for people to feel anything, but this time, I know what I really felt, but I am still confused by the term "connections." a strong bond? I didn't want to interrupt him. He continued.

"When Robert died, it severed your connection. But the death of your soulmate is incredibly significant. Some people have died from the pain. I know it must have been horrible. I think that having a piece of him with you helped. Your daughter was your savior. My mom's pregnancy with the twins helped her. She is also an incredibly strong and resilient person,"

Marvin said it with pride. He looked at his mom and smiled.

"This is unbelievable. If I hadn't experienced the pain myself, I don't know if I would believe it. We had to tell you as soon as possible. I don't want Abby Jezz to suffer. I needed her to understand her feelings a little more, and mine." Marvin added.

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"That will be up to you and Solidad," Jolina said.

Mom take a deep breath.

"Well, obviously you need to stay near each other. Ideally, you should at the very least see one another every day. That will help ease the pain slightly. But the more time that passes, the harder it will be to stay apart. The pull will eventually be too much." Jolina told us.

"I remember it very well. I had to be with Robert. It was almost like an obsession. I couldn't think straight when we weren't together. I thought I was losing my mind about being with Robert. But now I understand it. I wish he had explained it to me." Mom tells us.

"So, it's not a blessing; it's more like a curse. You can't leave each other's side ever, or you will get sick and possibly die?" I asked.

"Oh no, sweetie! Not at all. This is just the pull. This feeling will eventually subside substantially. It gets better." Jolina reassured me.

"When?" I asked.

"I'm going to let you speak privately to Marvin about that." Jolina told me. But now I feel frustrated. Maybe I only feel "admiration," not love. I'm also thinking about how to help the situation I'm in.

Mom and Jolina excused themselves from the room. Marvin sits attentively on the couch in front of me. I wanted to reach out and hold his hand. But he still resists.

"Abby Jezz, I want you to know that you already mean more to me than anything or anyone. You are my soulmate. I have waited to meet you for so long. When I saw you, I couldn't believe how beautiful and brilliant you were. I felt like I didn't deserve you. I will love you and only you for the rest of our lives. I would love for you to agree to date me when you turn 18. Will you please consider it?" He said it with a little desperation in his voice.

"Mr. Albanzo, I am definitely considering it. I have very strong feelings for you. I just don't understand how it's all destined for me, and I'm not sure how I feel about all of this. But I would like to give this a try. I just need more information about what is going to happen. Why do I feel so sick when you aren't near me, and when will it stop?" I asked for clarification.

"Because we are soul mates, our bodies and minds try to connect us together. You can feel the pull just as I do when we are in the same room, right?"

"Yes, so I need to ensure that you are mine and I am yours. The first step is eye contact. We have already triggered that. When I look into your eyes, I feel that I am connected to you." I told him.

"Also, we can locate each other by being drawn to our scent. Over time, we can find each other from longer distances because of that scent." He explained.

"I understand. Were you stay outside to our house last night?"