Wren has come to hate this. Soulmates shouldn’t exist, she decides.

She eyes her phone, picking it up and going to a contact that is labeled “Annie.” Her finger hovers over the fake name but lets her phone slip from her grip for the fifth time in the past fifteen minutes.

Greta and Bell are at school, so now would be an ideal time.

“You need to do this,” she whispers to herself. It doesn’t make her feel any more brave.

Bracing herself, she presses the call button and dread fills her every cell. While she wishes for this to be done, a large part hopes that the voicemail will ring out.

“Hello?” A voice answers. She sighs. Too much to ask for.

“Hi Arlo,” she says, trying to keep her voice even. Being a mom has strengthened her mask of fake okayness.

“Wren. Why are you calling? I thought we agreed—“ he is taken off guard which doesn’t affect Wren. They barely ever talk, especially not on the phone. “I know what we agreed. Something’s happened that you should know,” she cuts him off. She doesn’t want to be reminded of her stupid decisions.

Instantly, his demeanor shifts. This tone taking on a more softer and understanding sound. “I’m listening. I’ll always listen.”

Whether she likes it or not, his words calm her. She feels an inner peace take over as they continue to talk.

“Bell knows that my soulmate isn’t Hai.”

“Oh Wren. How much does she know? Can’t you do something about that?” Arlo asks.

Wren shakes her head but remembers he isn’t there physically with her. “She doesn’t know everything. But I can’t alter her mind. I won’t do it again.” It caused enough damage. She can’t keep relying on her telepathic powers to fix all her issues.

“I wasn’t asking you to. You always do what you think is best. You’ll figure this out.” A grin takes over her face at his supportiveness. In this time of turmoil, it felt nice to hear some encouragement.

Leaning against her marble countertop, she relishes the cold on her heated skin. “I don’t know how. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me for taking the memory of her soulmate from her. And that isn’t even the half of it.”

“Hey, you panicked. You’re human. It’s ok, Wren,” he reassures. His words, his tone, everything is like a big warm hug. It is the biggest comfort to know that no matter what, he would be on her side, even if she were the only one to know that.

But she can’t let herself sink into his reasoning. What she did is wrong. She knows that. She’s always known that. “No it’s not. I’ve hurt so many people. Hai, Bell, Greta, and….you,” she lists, hesitating when she mentions Arlo.

She hears him sigh on the other line. Without seeing his face, she can’t tell what that exactly means. Oh how she wishes to use her abilities to just know. It is so easy to know how people feel when they are near. Then she can read their minds.

Though, it obviously became a crutch. Even habitual. It scares her how much she uses it without realizing it sometimes.

“I don’t blame you,” he states simply.

“How do you know that you truly feel like that? That I haven’t altered your thoughts to make you okay with it?” She pushes, voicing her biggest insecurity.

Now that Bell knows part of the story, Wren imagines that it will be difficult for her to trust her again.

And as a mother, that breaks her heart.

“Because I trust you.” He says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Even after everything?” She knows her tone is hopeful, taking on a slightly higher octave. But maybe if he can find it in his heart to trust her, someday Bell can.

“Even after everything,” he confirms. “I think it’s time to tell everyone. Not for me, but so you don’t have to feel like you are hiding things from your family.”

Hearing someone else say what she knows to be true just solidifies it to her. “You’re right. I think I’ve known that for a long time but was too afraid to actually do it.”

“No matter how they react, I’m here for you, Wren. Always.” She imagines his face with his sincere eyes and warm smile as he speaks. There is a deep desire for him to be there with her, but she shoves it down.

Wren longs to say three specific words to him. It just isn’t right. She’s complicated his life enough.

Instead she says, “Thank you. I always know I can count on you.”