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Charlie receives a mysterious program in the mail after winning a contest. Once he works with it to create his ideal woman, he finds that she is a lot closer to him than he thinks. How will he be able to be with her... when she was once his best friend?

What is a Soulmate?

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Author's Note: I'm playing with a bit of magic here. Seems like fun! The story isn't saturated with it, so those who are wary of "magical" stories may hopefully still give this one a chance. Happy reading!

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“Hey, dude, come look at this,” Charlie said to his best friend and apartment mate, John.

“What’s up?” John asked.

Charlie held up a package. “This package says that I won some contest or something.”

“Have you entered a contest recently?”

“There was that one about writing down all the traits I would want my soulmate to have,” Charlie said, air quoting the world “soulmate”.

“You never did show me that paper. Wasn’t the contest to make the most detailed assessment of a person possible without providing physical appearance?”

“Yeah. I went crazy on that thing. Everything from likes, dislikes, quirks, intelligence… the works. If I ever met a woman with everything I wrote there, I’d be on her in a heartbeat,” Charlie said.

“I hope that you at least plan on taking her out on a nice date or ten before doing that,” John said with a laugh.

“You know me. I’d do things right,” Charlie said.

John patted Charlie’s shoulder. “I know, man. Why don’t you have a girlfriend, anyway?”

“Haven’t found the one?” Charlie shrugged.

“And she was on that paper,” John said.

“Exactly,” Charlie said, opening up the package. He began to read the letter. “Congratulations, Charlie! You have won our contest with your description of your soulmate! Your prize, enclosed in this package, is an early access copy of our revolutionary new program. With our sophisticated creation software, you can create the physical appearance that matches the person you have described to us. Once you have finalized your soulmate’s appearance, it will be easier than ever to find the partner of your dreams!”

Charlie put down the letter. “Wow. What an odd prize. A program that lets me create a person?”

“And how will that help you find her?” John asked.

Charlie shrugged. “Beats me. They seem pretty serious about this thing, though. It wouldn’t hurt to try it and at least see what this program is.”

“Just make sure it doesn’t have a virus or something!” John laughed.

“Yeah. I’ll probably try tinkering with it later tonight or tomorrow morning,” Charlie said.

“Make sure to show her to me once you’re done. I’d like to meet your future wife,” John said.

“Future wife? I’ll never meet her. There is a such thing as being too perfect, you know.”

“Didn’t you account for that in your description?”

“Well, yeah, but the odds of me finding a woman with all of that is really slim.”

“I hope you find her, Charlie. She’ll be a lucky girl,” John said.

“What? You going gay on me, John?” Charlie asked.

John shook his head. “Nah. I’m just looking at things objectively. Anyway, I think I’m going to head to bed.”

“Okay. I should get to sleep too. Classes are starting up soon, and I need to reset my clock!” Charlie joked.

“Okay. It’s your turn on the master bed, right?” John asked. When Charlie nodded, John went into the bedroom first.

The friends had an unusual sleeping arrangement. The apartment they shared had only one bedroom, so they both elected to sleep there. To compensate for this, they made sure there were two beds in the room: a king size master bed and a twin size airbed. The two switched beds every night. A little while after John had settled himself into the air bed, Charlie climbed into the master bed.

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Charlie woke up before John the next morning and decided to put the prize disc into his computer. He couldn’t seem to find any name of the program on the box or the disc. He figured that it didn’t have a name yet because it wasn’t quite ready to be released. After checking the contents of the disc for viruses, he installed the program on his computer. Upon starting the program, he was presented with a few tools. In addition to creating his “soulmate”, he could also put himself into the program and see what he and the woman of his dreams looked like as a couple. He easily put all of his traits into the program, as he knew himself quite well. He was surprised, however, at how easily he was able to duplicate his own appearance with the tools provided in the program. He was amazed. It really looked like he was standing there.

Charlie was a very masculine man. Standing at just over six foot three, he had a v-shaped torso that led him to many a girlfriend in high school. He worked out fairly regularly, but his clothing often hid the fit physique that lay under them. His short brown hair was well groomed, and his grey eyes were easy to get lost in.

Charlie next started to work on creating his virtual “partner”. He started by inputting all of the traits that he submitted to the contest. However, it was asking for a few new ones related to physical appearance. He decided that he wanted his girl to be well and easily groomed, so he inputted that she had a near perfect complexion and elected to have laser hair removal before attending college. Since he was 20, that would mean that she had it at 18, he thought. Except for the hair on her head, really, she would be low maintenance, which would be good for both of them. After finishing the traits, he finally started to create the appearance of the girl. He somehow knew just what appearance would perfectly fit the traits he listed, almost as if an unseen hand were guiding his mouse. When he was finished, he was looking at a stunningly beautiful girl standing about seven inches shorter than his virtual frame.

With just one look, he knew that the girl he had created was perfect. If not for the fact that she was simply on a computer screen, Charlie might have fallen in love right then and there. He clicked the save button, storing both him and his soulmate for future access. John wanted to see her, after all. Charlie just wondered why he couldn’t give a name to the beauty on the screen. As he continued to explore the program in an attempt to see what else it could do, he heard John get up from his own slumber. He yawned and went to the computer to see what Charlie was doing.

“Is this her?” he asked, looking at the girl on the screen. “Oh, it let you create yourself, too? That’s practically a clone of you on the screen!”

“Yeah,” Charlie said, “this thing is powerful. It’s amazing. Oh, I never let you see the traits, either. Want to see those?”

“Sure,” John said. Charlie brought up the proper screen. John looked over the traits, quirks, and features, and felt a realization come to his mind.

“Um, Charlie? These traits… they describe me perfectly,” he said.

“What? You mean that my soulmate is ~you~… but as a woman?” Charlie asked.

“Yes! And… look at that girl. She resembles me a lot, almost as if she could be my sister! She’s definitely inherited my Mom’s looks. She was a model in her prime, remember?” John said.

“Oh, shit. Well, at least we know I’ll never meet this girl. You don’t have a sister,” Charlie said.

John laughed, and began to scratch at his chest. “Mom wanted a daughter so badly, though. She told me she was so excited to find out she was pregnant with me. Doctors always told her that she was likely to never get pregnant, so everybody was surprised when I popped up.”

“What was wrong with her?” Charlie asked, surprised that John had never told him about this.

“She’s just one of those unlucky women who aren’t very fertile,” John said.

“I’m sorry. You strike me as a big brother type,” Charlie said.

“Yeah. It would have been fun to have a little sister. Anyway, I’m feeling a little off, so I think I’ll head back to bed for a little while. If my Mom calls early, make sure to wake me up, okay?”

“Don’t worry. Go ahead and take the master bed. It’s your turn today,” Charlie said.

“I’m not about to say no to that offer,” John laughed. He climbed back into bed, leaving part of a bare leg exposed where neither the blanket nor his pajamas were covering it.

Charlie turned back to his screen and studied the beauty he had created some more. How was it that he was able to create somebody who could be related to John without realizing it? How could he have put his best friend into the body of a woman without realizing it? This was definitely weird, he thought. He thought back to the letter that came with the program. It was supposed to make it easier for him to find his soulmate, yet he just found out that finding her wouldn’t be possible. In his eyes, the program seemed to be a failure. After about a half hour of confirming that John was indeed right about the traits he had given the girl, he closed down the program and sighed. He stood up from the computer and took a look at John, sleeping peacefully. He thought that something looked odd about that exposed leg, and walked up to him to take a closer look.

He gasped when he realized that his leg was devoid of all hair! How was that possible? They were covered in hair just a half hour ago, and there was no sign of fallen hair on the bed. He then remembered something about the girl he created. She had undergone laser hair removal! Charlie started to panic. Was John becoming this girl he created? His soulmate? Seeing no other option, Charlie gently shook John awake.

“Wha… what’s going on?” John asked. “Did Mom call already?”

“No, John,” Charlie said. “Something’s going on.”

John sat up. “What is it?”

Charlie pointed to John’s leg. “Were your legs this hairless this morning?”

John looked at his leg and his eyes bugged out of his head. “No, they weren’t!”

“As I said, something is going on. Go to the bathroom and take a look at yourself. I’ll see if that program has anything to do with this,” Charlie said.

“You don’t think I’m…” John started.

“Not if I can help it!” Charlie said, rushing off to his computer. John got out of bed and walked to the bathroom.

He stood in front of his mirror and first lifted his pant legs to take a look at the skin under them. They were eerily smooth and hairless, almost as if hair never grew there at all. The hair on his head seemed longer, and his face softer and smoother. When he lifted his shirt, he discovered why his chest was itching earlier in the morning. His nipples were large, dark, and they seemed to be sticking out of his body. They definitely weren’t standard equipment for boys. He also saw that his arms and armpits were as devoid of hair as his legs. Was he actually turning into Charlie’s soulmate? John fought tears as he left the bathroom to confront his friend.

When Charlie heard his friend open the bathroom door, he stood to greet him.

“Are you really…” he started.

“What did you do?” John asked. “I think I’m… I think I’m turning into your dream girl! Wait. Did you grow?”

“No,” Charlie sighed, “you’re shrinking. The girl I made is five foot eight.”

“That’s a little tall for a girl,” John said.

“But short compared to me,” Charlie said.

“This can’t be happening!” John cried, putting his hands on his head. Charlie noticed that his nails seemed slightly longer, and his fingers more slender.

“The program has to have something to do with this,” Charlie said.

“I really am going to match that girl on the screen, aren’t I?” John asked, looking down.

“Come on. There’s gotta be a way to stop this,” Charlie said, dashing back to the computer. John followed him and stood behind his shoulder.

“Is there any way to change her appearance? If you make her look as I was this morning, I might revert back,” John said.

“That would be great… but the program won’t let me claim that my soulmate is a boy! It seems to know that I’m attracted to girls,” he said. John groaned. Did his voice seem higher than before?

“Maybe you can change the girl’s appearance. Make her more masculine?” John suggested. His voice was starting to crack. Charlie looked behind himself to find that John looked far more like a girl that he would have liked to admit. Small breasts were beginning to tent his pajamas, and his dark hair was steadily lengthening. His face was even softer than earlier, and his lips seemed fuller.

“Stop staring at me and keep looking!” John almost screamed. Tears were starting to stain his face. Charlie turned back to the program and started to go through all of the options.

“Augh!” he cried after several more minutes of panic laden looking, “I’m completely locked out! It won’t let me alter or change anything. It won’t even let me create a new couple!”

“Maybe… if you uninstall it?” John asked, his higher voice shaking with his tears.

Charlie didn’t look behind himself at his changing friend as he closed the program and tried to find a way to uninstall it. An error box graced his screen when he found it.

Warning!, it said, the program cannot be uninstalled until all changes are finished saving.

“I have saved all changes!” Charlie roared, “How can it not be finished?”

“I think it means me,” John said quietly. “It wants me to finish changing.”

Charlie looked to his friend and gasped once again. His hair was fuller and well past his shoulder. Substantial breasts adorned his chest, but he knew that they weren’t done yet. The girl he created had breasts that fit that sweet spot of a perfect size for her frame. His pajama top and bottom seemed to have combined into a long, flowing nightgown in the same light blue as his old nightwear.

“I’m close, aren’t I?” John asked. His voice was clearly female now.

“I’m so sorry, John,” Charlie said, “I had no idea this would happen.”

“I… I know you didn’t,” John accepted.

Charlie turned back around to his computer. He couldn’t bear to continue watching this happen to his best friend. He went back into the program, desperate to make things right again. John leaned back in behind him. His growing bosom crept into Charlie’s peripheral vision, providing an unwelcome distraction from his work. He turned back toward John. He looked so much like a girl now that he was having a very hard time thinking of him as he once was.

“I’m so sorry to have to say this, but it’s really hard to concentrate with your breasts right next to my head like that,” he said, hoping that John wouldn’t take it badly. John stepped back quickly, covering the feminine protrusions with his thin arms.

“I… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… how am I supposed to know where my breasts are supposed to go!” he cried. Emotions were running rampant in the transforming man. Charlie understood that, and didn’t react to his outburst. John walked back and sat on the bed while Charlie turned back to his computer. John continued to softly sob as he pulled his knees to his chest. He bit his lip when they came into contact with his breasts. He couldn’t understand why they kept growing. The girl on the screen didn’t have huge breasts. They were perfectly sized. He choked on another tear as he was reminded that those breasts were becoming his now.

Charlie continued to work at the program without any luck for another half hour. John’s sobbing slowed and eventually stopped, but he seemed to be staring into space while Charlie worked to find a way to change him back. Charlie tried to uninstall the program again, but the warning did not pop up again. After a moment of deliberation, Charlie decided not to uninstall it. He had a strange feeling that removing it would destroy all chances of changing John back. He stood up and looked at his friend. His knees were under his chin as he stared at the wall. John looked so intensely female that Charlie was having a truly hard time thinking of the figure on the bed as a he.

“John?” Charlie asked, afraid to startle his friend.

John’s head slowly turned toward Charlie. “Why did this happen?”

Charlie sat down next to John. “The letter said that the program would make it easier to find my soulmate. I think it figured that since your personality matched her’s to the letter, changing you would be the easiest way to let me find her.”

“How could it do this?” John choked, “It’s just a program!”

“I honestly have no idea,” Charlie said.

John just looked down again. “How are my parents going to take this? How is the university going to take this?”

“We can explain things to them somehow. I guess you can start when your Mom does her Sunday call,” Charlie said.

John sighed. “I’m hoping that she happens to forget this week.”

Charlie looked John over again, and sighed. “I’m sorry. I seriously can’t think of you as a John when you look like this.”

“Gee, I wonder why? Maybe it’s because I am so female that even wearing men’s clothing would only prove it further?” John asked. Charlie wasn’t sure whether his friend was ranting or telling a joke.

“Do you still want me to call you John, or should we use another name for now?” Charlie asked, trying to get to more practical matters.

John frowned and thought for a moment. “Call me… Mary.”

“Mary?”

“It’s the name that Mom would have given me if I were born a girl. After I was born, it became reserved for the little sister she was never able to conceive,” John said.

“Okay. Mary it is,” Charlie said. He watched as the new girl stood up and smoothed her nightgown out. Although the gown was shapeless, he could make out the lines of her hourglass figure underneath the material. He was jolted out of his trance by Mary sighing. She started to walk toward the closet.

“I guess I need to start packing now,” she said.

“Now, just wait a minute!” Charlie snapped, “Why would you think that?”

Mary turned around and motioned to herself. “We’re a man and a woman living in the same apartment and sleeping in the same room! This isn’t going to work!”

Charlie stood up. “You’re going to stay right here. It’s my fault that this happened to you and I’m not going to kick you out because of it. Boy or girl, you’re still my best friend, and friends don’t abandon each other like this.”

Mary bit her lip. “But… how are we going to handle this? It’s going to be awkward.”

Charlie thought for a second. “First, we can move the air bed across the room, so that we sleep far away from each other. We can also schedule bathroom time so that I won’t walk in on you while you’re naked or something. We can figure something out.”

“Why are you only worried about seeing me naked? Shouldn’t I be trying not to catch you too?” Mary asked.

“You’ve seen what I have. You’ve had what I have. I’m not saying that I’ll prance around the apartment without clothes on, but it won’t be the end of the world if I have an accident,” Charlie said.

“Okay… but we both need to be careful,” Mary said. “Are you sure you want to do this? People might start talking.”

“Let them talk,” Charlie said. He was surprised to see Mary smile.

“I’ll stay, then,” she said, “I’ll try to make this work, too.”

Charlie smiled back at his friend and walked closer to her. “I’ll keep trying to find a way to reverse this, okay?”

Mary looked up at Charlie, finally feeling what it was like to look up at someone over half a foot taller than herself. “Thanks,” she said.

“Would it be a bad move to give you a hug right now?” Charlie asked.

As Mary thought about it, she realized that she really could use a hug. She shook her head and held her hands out. Charlie engulfed the smaller girl in his arms, feeling her crush against his chest in a return hug. Mary marveled at just how nice it felt to be hugged by someone larger than her. Charlie was gentle and protective and, while she should have been angry that he was treating her so much like a girl, she couldn’t deny that she liked how the hug felt.

“Thank you for letting me stay,” she said.

“What are friends for?” Charlie asked. Mary just nodded. That question really didn’t need an answer. She wandered back around the room and finally settled back on the bed.

“It feels so odd to walk now,” she said, “it’s like my entire center of gravity has shifted.”

“That’s because it has. If your Mom is accepting of all this, and I’m sure she will, you can probably ask her a lot of questions when she calls later,” Charlie said.

Mary nodded. “This is going to be such a weird phone call.”

Charlie started to gather a few things. “I’m going to go out for a bit and try to ask around about that contest. Hopefully I can meet someone else who entered. Will you be okay alone?”

“Yeah. Some alone time actually sounds pretty nice. There’s still a lot for me to wrap my head around,” Mary said.

“I’ll probably be back in a couple of hours. Will that be plenty of alone time?”

“It’ll probably be more than enough.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later then.”

“Good luck!”

Mary watched Charlie leave the room and waited until she heard the front door close before standing up again. Watching her nightgown settle around her ankles, her eyes were drawn to the breasts tenting the front of the gown outward. She walked to the bathroom again and stripped, including the pair of panties she just realized she was wearing. She wondered if all of her clothes now matched this new body. Taking a look in the mirror, she gasped. Her tear stained face was somehow still beautiful, with wide eyes, full lips, defined cheeks, and a perfect framing of straight jet black hair. Her eyes retained the green hue she had as a boy. Her breasts were large and generous, but they seemed smaller than she thought they were in her initial panic. She brought a hand up to touch one and was amazed at the softness of the flesh. Her eyes traced an obviously attractive figure down to beautifully sculpted legs. Mary felt like she was the personification of pure femininity, and suddenly gained a lot of respect for Charlie for not trying to ravish her. He even asked for a hug instead of just taking the action.

Looking further, Mary realized that she had an athletic physique. She cringed when she thought about the effects of her usual runs on her breasts. They were probably a solid C cup, maybe a D but, having never had the experience of having breasts, she couldn’t be sure. They were definitely bigger than the average girl’s, but they didn’t look ~too~ big because she was also taller than the average girl. Everywhere the girl looked, she saw hints of her mother. She, too, had a beautifully proportioned body… beautiful enough to have experienced a lucrative modeling career. That, combined with her Dad’s job as a corporate CEO, meant that her family was very well off. She was attending college out of their pockets, and she was determined not to waste their money.

Since she was already naked, she decided to take a shower. She immediately found that her body was much more sensitive, possibly because of the lack of hair she now exhibited almost everywhere. The shower was very nice, but she had to cut it short so that she would be ready when her Mom called. After drying herself off, Mary wrapped the towel around her chest and walked to her closet. As she suspected, all of her clothing matched the girl she now was, and she was happy to find that there was a nice balance of jeans mixed in with the skirts and dresses that a girl as beautiful as her would be expected to wear. Regardless, she moved through the closet, taking out and putting on a pair of jeans and a regular t-shirt.

Mary easily snapped her bra behind her and was thankful for the support it provided as she stretched her shirt over her chest. She was moving a brush through her hair to get some knots out when the phone rang. She sighed when she realized it was her Mom.

“Hi Mom,” she said.

“Hi Mary!” her Mom, Cathy, said, “How’s my favorite daughter doing?”

Mary? Daughter? Mary paused for a second. Was all of reality changed to fit the existence of Mary instead of John? On second thought, she figured, that would probably be useful.

“Mom, I’m your only daughter,” Mary half whined, trying to fit into the part of the daughter.

“Oh, I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t love you as if you were my favorite,” Cathy said.

“I love you too, Mom, and I’m doing fine,” Mary said.

“It’s so lonely out here now that you’ve moved out for University. It was so nice to see you every day while you were getting your Associate’s Degree.”

“I’m going to be fine, Mom, and I’ll try to visit on weekends,” Mary said.

“It really was so nice of Charlie to offer to share his apartment with you. Are you two doing okay?” Cathy asked.

“We’re doing fine. Nothing weird has happened,” Mary lied.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to help you get a nicer apartment in town?” Cathy asked.

“I’m sure. I’ve spent so long being so well off and I’d like to see how the middle class lives,” Mary said, and it was the truth. It was the reason that she moved in with Charlie as John, too. The fact that he was her best friend helped, too.

“I’m so proud of you, honey. That boy must really like you to risk your relationship by letting you live with him.”

Mary blushed, thankful that her Mom couldn’t see it. “We’re just friends, Mom, and it’s really an arrangement of convenience more than anything.”

“I was the same way with your father. We were inseparable for so many years, but we were just friends. Then… we discovered that spark. The way our relationship developed from there was just so rewarding and loving. I wouldn’t trade that man for anything in the world.”

Mary was supportive and envious of the love her parents shared. As John, although she sought such a relationship, she just wasn’t interested in the other girls. But, when she looked at certain boys. She even harbored hidden feelings for Charlie. She shook at that thought. If Charlie ever knew that little fact, then she would lose her best friend in a heartbeat. She was always confused about her sexuality, so she avoided relationships altogether. But now…

“Charlie and I aren’t like that, really,” Mary pleaded.

“Even so, don’t let him go, okay? Intimate or not, men like that are hard to find,” Cathy said.

“They are,” Mary found herself agreeing.

“How is your laser hair removal holding up? Are any baby hairs popping up?” Cathy asked.

“No,” Mary said, quickly thinking of a good answer, “they did a good job. Thank you for letting me do it.”

“I know how much more feminine and beautiful I feel without the fear of unsightly hairs, so it was my pleasure to give you that opportunity as your graduation gift,” Cathy said.

“It really is easier to groom myself. Charlie would probably have a fit if I spent as much time in the bathroom as the average girl,” Mary said. She was falling into the role of daughter unusually easily.

“I’m so happy to see that you’re embracing your femininity. There were a couple of rocky spots, like when you insisted on wearing boy’s clothing, but you’ve come out a stunningly beautiful young woman. I don’t know how you’ve managed to avoid a boyfriend for so long,” Cathy said.

“I haven’t found the right guy yet?” Mary said, borrowing Charlie’s excuse.

“He might be closer than you think,” Cathy said. Mary heard some noise in the background. “Oh! I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to go. I’ll see you this weekend. I love you!”

“I love you too, Mom!” Mary called into the phone, just before her Mom hung up. As she put the phone back, she thought back to what her Mom said about a phase of wearing boy’s clothing. As John, she had a completely opposite phase of wearing girl’s clothing. It was so much fun and she actually felt like herself, but when puberty started and the girls around her started gaining curves, breasts, hips… the clothes simply didn’t fit her right anymore. The enjoyment of wearing the clothes was beaten down by the despair at knowing that they’d never fit her the way they were meant to. Now, Mary realized, she could wear any female clothing she wanted and they would fit her amazingly well. Even the simple outfit she was wearing now brutally showed off how female she was… and she liked it.

Mary started pacing across the room. If Charlie learned about any of this, their friendship would be over. She would have to be resigned to being a jeans girl, and pretend to be more upset about the transformation than she actually was. Now that the shock of the sudden transformation had worn off… she wondered if she might want to stay like this. Her thoughts were interrupted by the front door opening. Charlie was home! She sat back on the bed and waited for him to come in. She smiled at him as he walked through the bedroom door.

“There you are,” he said.

“Did you find anything out?” Mary asked.

“I found one other person who entered the contest, but they didn’t win so they didn’t get the program. It’s all a giant dead end. I’ll have to find contact information for the company and see if they can fix this,” he said.

“They’ll probably tell you that it’s irreversible,” Mary said, frowning.

“You do seem to be doing a little better, though,” Charlie said.

Mary stood up and nodded. “The shock of the transformation has worn off, I guess. Oh, and I got a surprise while you were gone. When Mom called, it was as if I were always her loving daughter, and I got laser hair removal as a graduation gift! I’m betting that I can just attend my classes tomorrow and nothing weird will happen.”

“Wow. That’s a relief,” Charlie said, studying the outfit Mary had decided to wear. He expected her to wear jeans, but it was incredible how attractive she looked even without showing much skin. He was staring at his soulmate, in both mind and body, and he couldn’t reach her. To even attempt to would destroy their already rocky relationship. He would have to be careful around her.

“This really will be an interesting semester,” Mary said.

“Yeah. Hopefully, I can contact that stupid company tomorrow and get them to tell me what in the world that program did.”

“I think it’s obvious enough to see what it did. We need to find out how it did it,” Mary said.

“Yeah. You were always the smarter one, weren’t you?” Charlie asked.

“I’m still me up here, Charlie,” Mary said, pointing to her head, “I’m just in a new package, so to speak.”

“You’re sure that your mind hasn’t changed at all? I’d hate to have also invoked some kind of love spell or something,” Charlie said.

“Relax. If I were under some kind of love spell, we’d probably be in bed right now. This program probably expected you and your soulmate to naturally connect on such a level that such things weren’t required,” Mary said.

“That way, if love does bloom, it is richer,” Charlie said.

“I didn’t know you were a romantic,” Mary teased.

“Everyone has their secrets,” Charlie teased back.

Mary smiled. “Come on. Let’s spend some time together. We’re still friends, right?”

“I’d like to think so,” Charlie said.

“Me too. So, Dom or Marcus?” Mary asked.

“I didn’t know girls played Gears of War!”

“You should know better than anyone else that I’m not your average girl!” Mary chimed. Charlie marveled at just how beautiful her voice sounded, especially when she was cheerful. He was already falling in love with the girl standing in front of him. He almost wanted to just give up on changing Mary back, but he knew that he couldn’t betray his friend in such a way.

The two spent the night playing through Gears of War 3, one of their latest acquisitions. Mary didn’t have any consoles at her house, even when she was John. When she played, it was with Charlie. Mary proved that she lost no skill in her transformation as they played through much of the game for the second time. For a time, they forgot that they were a beautiful girl and a handsome boy sharing a couch and just had fun. When it came time to head to bed, both of the friends lamented the loss of their future free time as homework would begin to bog them down. Mary got into the nightgown she was wearing just after her change and Charlie just changed into some pajamas.

“Wearing that nightgown again?” Charlie asked the girl.

“This is my least revealing sleepwear. The others range from slightly sexy to ‘come to bed, handsome’,” she said, motioning toward herself with a slender finger.

Charlie laughed. “Why would those be in there?”

“My guess is that Mom snuck them into my suitcase so that I could seduce you with my feminine wiles,” Mary joked.

“Is she trying to get you and I together?” Charlie asked.

“Definitely. She told me that she fell in love with my Dad after being best friends for years… just like we’ve been. She’s assuming that the same thing will happen to us,” Mary explained.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I trust you. Despite all of this, you’re still my best friend, and I want you to know that I don’t want that to change,” Mary said.

“I don’t want that to change, either,” Charlie said. Mary’s smile lit up the room. Charlie watched his soulmate climb into the master bed as he got into the air bed.

---

Classes were exactly as Mary expected. She still had her same major of English, the only difference being that “Mary” was enrolled as a student instead of “John”. She was happy that things were falling together so well. Mary was, however, disconcerted at just how many men were trying to get her attention and flirt with her. Her previous questions regarding her sexuality were shatteringly answered as she found that she was still attracted to men… and that was “normal” now. Yet, she couldn’t let herself be courted. If Charlie ever found out that she had accepted a date… she just wasn’t sure. What if there was a deeper reason for her refusals?

University was the same for Charlie as it always was. Tough classes, boring professors, and beautiful girls trying to get the handsome man’s attention. Some of them were even bold enough to ask for dates themselves, even though most seemed to be waiting for Charlie to make the first move. Even so, he refused all advances and asked no one. He was worried about Mary. She was out there for the first time as a girl, and he wasn’t sure how she was going to take it. As beautiful as she was, she would be beating the guys off with a stick, but she would probably prefer an axe or minigun.

When Charlie got back home from his classes, he was surprised to find that Mary was still out. Didn’t her classes end before his? As if to answer the question, she came bounding into the room and froze. Charlie’s eyes bugged out of his head at the sight of her. She was wearing a pair of shorts and a midriff baring top. They were obviously made for running, but seeing Mary show so much skin so soon after becoming a girl was very surprising to Charlie.

“Something wrong? I was just out for a run,” she said casually, wiping her forehead.

“But… what you’re wearing…” Charlie stammered.

“Oh, this? These seem to be my running clothes now. With how hot it is out there, I’d overheat if I wore pants,” she said.

“And you’re okay with showing that much skin?”

“Not really, but as I said, it’s better than overheating. I’m going to take a shower, then get into more practical clothes,” she said, bounding to the bathroom. Charlie left the room to give her some privacy.

Charlie was confused. If the program had changed him instead of John, he would have spent his time hiding in the apartment wearing the least revealing clothes he could find. Mary, however, was not only casually talking about sexy nightwear last night, but she went out in short shorts and a sports bra to run? It was only natural that Mary share John’s habit of having a run every day, but she seemed to be taking her situation unusually well. Was she sure that her mind wasn’t affected? Charlie pushed that thought to the back of his mind for the moment as he picked up the phone. He had the phone number of the company who ran the contest he won, and he intended to give them a piece of his mind.

“Soulmate Discovery, Inc! This is Britney,” a cheerful girl answered.

“Hello, Britney. I recently won a contest that your company ran, and I have a question about my prize. Can I speak to your boss?” Charlie asked.

“You won one of our contests? Did you win an early copy of our soulmate creation program?” Britney asked.

“Yes, I did. I’d like to know more about it.”

“Of course. I’ll put you through now,” the girl said. Charlie waited for a moment, until the phone was picked up again. He was surprised that he wasn’t put on hold.

“Hello, Charlie. I am Brandon Zenix, CEO of Soulmate Discovery,” the man said. Charlie was shocked. He was sent straight up to the CEO? What was going on here?

“Hello, Mr. Zenix. I won your contest to describe the personality of my soulmate,” Charlie said.

“Of course. You are well loved out here, Charlie. Your detailed descriptions helped to provide the framework of creating the personality of one’s soulmate within our creation program. How did you like your copy?”

“It really is an amazing piece of software… except that it changed my best friend into a girl!” Charlie said, getting straight to the point.

“Your best friend, you say? Tell me. Was the personality of your soulmate similar to the personality of your best friend?” Brandon asked.

“According to him, well, her, the personalities were an exact match,” Charlie said.

“How has your friend reacted to the changes?”

“She was panicking and crying at first, but now she seems to be trying to take it in stride. She might be trying to hold out until I can reverse the change,” Charlie explained.

“I see. I am, however, sorry to inform you that the change is irreversible.” Brandon said.

“What do you mean, it’s not reversible? I changed my best friend into a girl! Our relationship has completely changed!” Charlie yelled.

“Into one borne from love, I hope,” Brandon said.

“No! If anything, we’re being driven apart. I can’t try to court her. She was once a guy, and our friendship would be ruined if I made any moves on her,” Charlie said.

“I’m sure that the two of you will resolve your differences and develop your relationship further,” Brandon said.

“Why are you so sure? Is there some kind of magic at work here?” Charlie asked.

“Nothing past the initial change, I assure you. You two will be drawn together because you are soulmates. Whether you pursue a further relationship is up to both you and her,” Brandon explained.

“Why did this program create my soulmate? Does that mean that I wouldn’t have found her otherwise?” Charlie asked.

“It means just that. Not everybody has a soulmate, and this program seeks to create them in situations where none existed. If it helps you, your friend John didn’t have a soulmate either,” Brandon said.

“And now you’ve forced us into an awkward situation where we’re both walking on eggshells around each other. How is that supposed to foster love?” Brandon demanded, not bothering to wonder why Brandon knew John’s name.

“The greatest love comes after the greatest turmoil. If the two of you can solve your problems, you will be truly happy with each other.”

“How can you know all of this?”

“It is the nature of soulmates. They cannot be driven apart, yet they cannot be forced to accept each other either. It’s a tenuous situation, and one we hope to eliminate in order to foster the growth of love in the world.” Brandon said.

“So you’re saying that we’re meant to be together, but it doesn’t mean that we ~will~ be together?” Charlie asked.

“Exactly. Situations such as this often lead to divorces. A couple realizes that they don’t love each other as much as they could, yet they cannot quite place a finger on why. The answer, of course, is that they’ve had contact with their soulmates, but don’t realize it quite yet.”

“Why are you explaining all of this to me? Wouldn’t it be more fulfilling to find out who my soulmate is myself? Instead, it’s being thrown in my face that this beautiful girl who was once my male best friend is my soulmate, and I just don’t know what to do,” Charlie said.

“That is something that not even I know the answer to. You, among four other lucky men, earned early access copies to our program. Through your experiences, we will determine whether or not this method of fostering love is successful. I am sorry that your friend experienced such a change, but the program is capable of enacting such changes to reality. Ordinarily, it would lead the user to be inexplicably drawn to their soulmate, without their knowledge,” Brandon said.

“So you really just want love to spread?”

“Precisely. What the program has done is final. I hope that you and your friend find the love that is waiting for you,” Brandon said.

“Well, thank you for your help. I’ll keep what you’ve said in mind,” Charlie said.

“I’m sure you will. Have a nice day,” Brandon said. He hung up, leaving Charlie with a lot of thinking to do. Just what is a soulmate, he wondered. He walked back to the bedroom to find that Mary was already dressed in another pair of jeans and a shirt.

“Mary?” Charlie asked. The beautiful girl turned to face him.

“Yes?” she chimed.

“I just got off the phone with the company who ran that contest.”

Mary suddenly seemed more interested. “What did they say?”

Charlie sighed. “The CEO himself told me that what the program did to you is irreversible. He’s so convinced that we are soulmates that his advice was to just ‘let our love grow’,” he air quoted the last part.

Mary scoffed at him. “So his solution is to just forget about it and start sucking face?”

“It would seem so,” Charlie said sadly.

“Just what is it about soulmates anyway? All I’ve been hearing these days is soulmate this and soulmate that. Is it really that important?” Mary ranted.

“I really don’t know, Mary,” Charlie said.

“Do you really think there’s no way to change me back?” Mary asked.

“I don’t want to think that. I’ll keep looking,” Charlie said. He saw Mary smile, but only she knew that her gratitude was becoming less and less sincere. In reality, she was more and more questioning whether or not she truly wanted to change back. Charlie, however, saw the smile… but not the worry behind it.

“You’re a good friend,” Mary said softly. Charlie smiled and went back to his computer to explore the program some more.

---

Through the rest of the week, the tension between Charlie and Mary began to grow. Charlie was frustrated both at his inability to find a way to reverse the change and his growing attraction to Mary. He couldn’t accept Brandon’s assertion that he shouldn’t worry about anything because Mary was his soulmate. He knew that Mary was his soulmate… and he didn’t need any person or program to confirm it. Every time he looked at her, he wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her until she was dizzy. When it came to be Friday, he was welcoming the chance to get home for the weekend and spend some time away from his problems.

Mary was suffering from her own frustrations. She greatly admired and respected Charlie’s dedication to trying to change her back into John. She knew that Charlie was very attracted to her… even a blind woman could notice the stares she often caught him employing. The problem was that she found herself having less and less of a problem with Charlie’s attention. She didn’t have to be vain or cocky to know that she was beautiful, and she respected Charlie even more for not taking advantage of her. Their relationship had remained strictly platonic, yet she couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like for him to take her into his arms and kiss her deeply. These fantasies were starting to creep into her dreams, leaving her hot and bothered when she woke up. It was a very confused Mary who drove home on Friday.

---

Mary’s Weekend

Mary arrived home late in the evening, and wanted nothing more than to just go to bed after greeting her parents. The week had tired her out immensely, but she was glad to be home. Since Charlie left for his home before she did, Mary was able to dress femininely after several long days of only wearing jeans. Her running outfits were somewhat of a reprieve, but it wasn’t enough. She longed to wear skirts, dresses, heels, earrings, and all of the delicate clothing that would best showcase the resurfaced feminine desires that became stronger and stronger with each passing day. When she woke up the next morning, she was instantly in a skirt and blouse, bounding downstairs to see her Mom, who was usually up early as well. As she suspected, Cathy was doing a little light dusting in the living room, and she lit up upon seeing Mary.

“Hi, honey!” she said, “Are you feeling nice and awake?”

Mary nodded. “I was out as soon as I hit my bed. It’s nice to be home.”

“How are you doing?” Cathy asked.

“I’m doing fine,” Mary said.

“Are you and Charlie doing okay?”

Mary sighed. Already, she was starting with this? “We’re doing fine, Mom,” Mary lied. She was sad that things really weren’t okay. The tension between them was making her question her choice of staying in the apartment after the change.

“No you’re not, Mary. Something is upsetting you. Please, talk to me,” Cathy pleaded with her daughter.

Mary sank down on the couch, pressing her knees together. “Is it that obvious?” she asked.

Cathy sat down next to her daughter and brought her into a hug. “Whatever it is, we can get through it, okay? Are you willing to talk about it?”

“It’s Charlie,” Mary found herself saying, “there’s this tension between us now. He keeps staring at me when he thinks I’m not looking, and I just don’t know what he’s thinking.”

“You may be his friend, honey, but you’re also a beautiful woman. Have you confronted him about how uncomfortable you’re feeling?” Cathy asked.

“I don’t know how I should do it,” Mary said, “I don’t want to hurt our friendship.”

“That’s understandable, but if you let this linger, the two of you will be driven apart without a chance of saving your relationship with him.”

“Do you think that he’s attracted to me?” Mary asked.

“Any man would be stupid not to be,” Cathy gently joked.

“That doesn’t help, Mom,” Mary said, “I don’t know what to do about this.”

Cathy stroked Mary’s hair. “Do you have feelings for him too?”

Mary began to cry as she nodded. Cathy brought her into another hug. “I’ve known him for so long and never felt anything like this. I’m so confused!” Mary sobbed.

“Love can be sudden. Are you worried about pursuing him?”

Mary couldn’t relay her true concerns. She had to think of something that was true enough to get her Mom’s advice. “I’m afraid that if something goes wrong, then I’ll lose his friendship forever.”

“You can’t find out if the two of you will work unless you take that risk,” Cathy said.

“I’m scared,” Mary said.

“You’re scared of falling in love?” Cathy prodded.

“No,” Mary said, “I want it more than anything. I want what you and Dad have.”

Cathy stroked her daughter’s hair. “Then take the plunge. You two are perfect for each other.”

“You really think so?” Mary asked.

“Of course. I’ve watched your relationship develop since you were a little girl,” Cathy said. Mary pushed further into their hug.

“I think I know what I have to do now,” she said after a long pause.

“I’ll support whatever decision you make,” Cathy said.

Mary smiled. She knew exactly what she was going to do when she got back home.

---

Charlie’s Weekend

Charlie woke up on Saturday morning after a night of heavy thinking. He couldn’t get Mary out of his mind. She seemed to be getting more beautiful every single day, despite her conservative dressing. Every day, he resisted the urge to gently hold her and say those three words… “I love you.”

A knocking at the door interrupted Charlie’s thoughts.

“Hey, Charlie. You awake?” his father, Mark, asked.

“Yeah, just give me a sec,” Charlie said.

“There’s no need for that,” Mark said, opening the door, “we can talk here.”

“What’s wrong?” Charlie asked as Mark sat on the bed with him.

“You were awfully distant yesterday. Is anything bothering you?” he asked.

“Did Mom put you up to this?” Charlie asked.

“Yes, she did,” Mark laughed, “but that doesn’t mean that I’m not worried about you, too. Is it Mary?”

Charlie was about to protest, but he realized that he would just give himself away. He just nodded.

Mark sighed. “I have to admit, son. I was worried about you inviting a girl to live with you, especially one as beautiful as Mary, but I knew that you’d be able to handle it. You’ve been friends for so long that I can’t see anything going wrong between you two. What’s going on?”

Charlie looked down. “I’m falling in love with her, Dad.”

Mark smiled. “It’s about time.”

“It’s not that simple, Dad!” Charlie cried, “I know that she doesn’t feel that way about me. If I tell her how I feel, our friendship will be ruined.”

“Would Mary have accepted your offer to live with you if she wasn’t interested in getting closer to you?” Mark asked.

Charlie deeply regretted not being able to reveal his true situation to his Dad. “Well, no, but she isn’t ready for me to tell her my feelings. I don’t know if she ever will be.”

“I remember when I first asked your mother out. It took me months to gather the courage to ask her for a simple date, and she said no. I was crushed! But, a few months later, she came back and asked me if my offer for a date still stood… and the rest is history,” Mark explained.

“She said no?” Charlie asked.

“She sure did. When she came back, she explained that she wanted to accept my offer, but she simply wasn’t ready to try a relationship just yet. What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t worry about whether or not Mary will accept you right now or not. As long as she knows how you feel, she’ll come to you when she’s ready,” Mark said.

The advice was sound, and it would probably work in any other situation but Charlie’s, but his situation was unique. Charlie had even more to think about as he thanked his Dad for the talk and continued to sit on his bed. He wondered what would happen when he and Mary saw each other again.

---

Sunday Afternoon

Of the two friends, Mary got back to the apartment long before Charlie. She wanted plenty of time to prepare herself for his arrival. She planned on opening herself up to him… and she desperately hoped that he’d accept her. She showered and found herself in front of her closet after drying and brushing her hair. She smiled as she put on a strapless bra and a beautiful red dress that molded to her generous curves. It came down to just above her knees, showing a lovely portion of her legs. Not a hair had grown on them in the week she’d spent as Mary so far. She next put on some simple hoops and let a necklace settle just above her cleavage. After putting on a pair of red 3½ inch heels, she sat down at the computer.

Mary saw the icon for the soulmate creation program still on the desktop. Somehow, she felt drawn to the program. Just what was it? How was it able to alter reality into thinking that she was born as Mary and not John? Butterflies floated in her stomach as she saw the picture of her and Charlie together that she had seen just before her transformation. Both of the people in the picture were smiling, and Mary found herself smiling back. Would this be the two of them someday? She navigated to start a new soulmate, and was surprised that the program let her. Charlie claimed that he couldn’t. Did the program know that someone new was using it?

Mary effortlessly created herself with the program. She was as amazed as Charlie was with the power of the program and its ease of use. She then moved on to creating her own soulmate. She started placing traits, quirks, and everything else that made up the personality of the guy she wished to be with. Her desires came out unusually easily, and she quickly transitioned into creating the physical appearance of her soulmate. She felt like she was in a trance as she manipulated the tools of the program to create her perfect man. When she was finished, she leaned backwards from the screen and gasped.

The man she had created… was Charlie! In a panic, Mary looked through the traits she had placed, and found that every single one matched her best friend. A shaking hand went over her mouth as she closed the program. How could she have unknowingly created Charlie? She sighed as the answer came to her. The same way Charlie unknowingly created Mary. She stood up again as she heard the front door open. Mary straightened up, smoothed her dress out, and readied a smile for Charlie when he entered the room. She wasn’t about to abandon her plan.

Charlie walked into the room and froze when he saw Mary in her dress. A cautious smile graced Mary’s face as she waited for him to react.

“Mary… you look beautiful,” Charlie said. He couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Thank you,” the girl said softly. “Charlie, I have to talk to you.”

“So do I,” Charlie said, “but you can go first.”

Mary sighed. “Please. Wait for me to finish before you say anything.”

“Okay,” Charlie said. Mary took a deep breath and began to tell her story.

“When I was about ten years old, I liked to dress in women’s clothing. Mom and Dad let me do it all I wanted, because they thought that I would grow out of it. I kind of did, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to wear the clothes anymore. It was because clothes for teenage girls just didn’t fit me as I aged. When I wore those clothes, I didn’t feel like somebody else. I felt like… me. It was really confusing to me because I wasn’t attracted to girls. I was attracted to… boys. I tried to deny it, which was why I’ve never had a relationship.” Mary paused for a moment. “Charlie, I think I might have always been a girl.”

Silence prevailed for a few minutes before Charlie finally found his voice. “So, you like being Mary? You don’t want to be John again?”

Tears started to streak her face as she nodded. She was waiting for the hammer… for Charlie to abandon her.

“Then why have you tried to make it seem like that you really wanted to change back? Why wait until now to wear a dress?” Charlie continued.

“I didn’t want you to think badly of me or think I was some kind of sissy. I… I don’t want to lose you, Charlie,” Mary said.

Charlie smiled and brought the crying girl into a hug. “You aren’t going to lose me, Mary. You aren’t some kind of sissy… you’re a girl, and it really does sound like you always have been. It would explain a few things I noticed about how you carried yourself as John.”

Mary pulled herself back from the hug. “You… You’re really okay with this?”

Charlie pulled her back into his chest. “You’re my best friend, Mary. I’d be okay with you if you were a nine foot tall tentacle monster.”

Mary laughed softly into her friend’s chest. “I’d bet that you’re a little more okay with me being your soulmate now, right?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Charlie said.

Mary pulled back again. “Then let’s go out.”

“Right now?” Charlie asked.

“I ~am~ dressed for it,” Mary shrugged.

“What about your makeup?”

“I knew I’d be crying when you got home, so I decided to save it for later,” Mary said.

Charlie laughed. “You always were the smarter one.”

Mary was about to walk to the bathroom, but she stopped. “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

Charlie laughed again. “I was going to ask you out on a date, but you actually beat me to the punch.”

Mary smiled. “I guess we both had an epiphany over the weekend.”

Charlie just couldn’t believe what was happening. His mind was in a daze as he tried to plan this surprise date that he suddenly found himself part of. While Mary was busy prettying herself up, he got into something nicer, finishing just as Mary came out of the bathroom. As impossible as it seemed, Mary had managed to make herself look even more beautiful. Charlie could barely see the makeup that she used, but its effect was obvious. He smiled and held his hand out for her to take. Even in her heels, she was almost five inches shorter than Charlie, but she didn’t care.

“I thought that girls were always late to a date,” Charlie joked.

“I did most of the preparation before you got here. I can be late next time if you want,” Mary said.

“Next time?” Charlie asked.

Mary put her dainty hand on Charlie’s chest. “We’re going to do this right, and doubt that it will take just one date for me to sort out all of my feelings.”

“I promise that you won’t regret this, Mary. I’m going to treat you right,” Charlie said. Mary knew that he was telling the truth.

The date went, as Mary expected, a little rocky. There was almost no time for planning involved, and she didn’t hold it against Charlie because it was entirely her fault. Regardless, the two friends greatly enjoyed each other’s company and were pleased by the prospect of spending more intimate time together. Charlie knew that he would have to take things slow, just because Mary wanted it that way. The smile he saw on her face every time he looked at her spoke volumes. She felt something for him that was deeper than friendship, just as he felt something similar for her.

Soon enough, the pair was back at their shared apartment. Mary was hanging off of Charlie’s arm with a permanent smile on her face, and Charlie felt the same way.

“I’m sorry for throwing this on you so suddenly,” Mary said, “but I really enjoyed being with you.”

“It was different than just spending the night here, wasn’t it?” Charlie asked.

Mary nodded. “Do you think that we will be able to work?”

Charlie hugged the girl on his arm. “I know that this will work.”

“Do you think that we could go out tomorrow, or Tuesday?” Mary asked.

“Why not Tuesday? We end classes earlier. We’ll have more time to spend together,” Charlie suggested.

“That sounds perfect,” Mary said. She was looking up at Charlie with a smile, and the smitten man could no longer suppress his urges. Seeing Mary look so beautiful was almost too much for him to bear. He started to bring Mary’s chin up to his lips, and she let him. When Charlie’s lips came into contact with Mary’s soft, waiting mouth, they culminated in the greatest kiss either of them had ever experienced. Charlie quickly grabbed Mary’s waist as she felt her legs start to turn into jelly. She gleefully returned the kiss, eager to let the sensations wash over her for a few seconds longer. When they finally broke off the kiss, Charlie gently stroked Mary’s cheek as the pair smiled at each other again.

“How did that feel?” Charlie asked.

“It felt… right,” Mary said, leaning against his chest. She traced little circles on a pectoral as she basked in their contact.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Charlie asked.

Mary sighed happily as a new wave of affection for Charlie washed over her. Even after taking so many steps, he was still worried about her feelings. Mary looked into his eyes.

“This is what I want,” she said, “to tell the truth, I always liked you when I was John… but I always tried to deny it. I couldn’t bear to tell you that your best friend was gay.”

Charlie stroked a tear off Mary’s cheek. “I would have accepted you anyway.”

Mary started to smile, her happiness contrasting the makeup running down her face. She pulled Charlie’s head down, initiating another kiss. Charlie wasn’t about to refuse. He felt Mary’s soft moan as passion began to fill their hearts. When they broke off their second kiss, they were both breathing heavily.

“It’s going to be a little different living with you now,” Charlie said.

“I think it’ll be fun,” Mary said. She was no longer crying, and once again held a brilliant smile upon her lips.

“You must have a strange idea of fun,” Charlie joked.

Mary gave him a peck on the lips. “I think being able to do that you at any moment is very fun!”

Charlie laughed. “Well, I think first base is enough for now.”

“It certainly is!” Mary chimed.

“Why don’t we start heading to bed?” Charlie asked, curious to see Mary’s reaction.

“It’s my turn on the master bed, right?” Mary asked, oblivious to Charlie’s hidden suggestion.

“I think so,” Charlie said.

“Okay. Now, shoo! I have to get into my nightwear,” she said.

Charlie laughed as he left the room until Mary gave the all clear. Upon seeing her in the bathroom, cleaning her makeup off, he got into the air bed and drifted off to sleep. Mary wasn’t far behind.

They both dreamed of each other, and their future together… asking the same question of themselves.

What is a soulmate?

The End

---

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