"Souls of lovers never break. They stay together, collided, until the lovers' last breaths."

Was Pearl's message to me first thing when I woke up alone in my-our- house.

I didn't understand what was her point. Rereading it for the seventh time, I still didn't get what she meant.

"Did you send it for the wrong person?" I texted her back, only replying with the most reasonable explanation.

But she didn't reply, and I found myself losing interest with every passing second. I climbed off the bed and into the shower, letting the hot water fall over my tired body.

Thoughts didn't leave my body as I stepped outside the house and into my car. She didn't leave my mind. I don't know why.

I thought about how I love her. How much comparing her to everything was easy when she'd be the winner of my mental battle. It's different now that there's a strong competitor in my life.

I sketched her face behind my eyelids, adding every detail that I'd never forget. Her beautiful imperfections. It was nice to have her visit my brain again, in all its parts. She visited all of my senses suddenly, making her presence more real. And she was welcomed, very welcomed, with all of her memories to come visit me whenever she wanted.

I drove to the cafe Pearl works in, my mind drifting to her constantly. Like I missed her. Like I missed her so much. Too much. And I saw her there, smiling to a customer.

Her smile was beaming, and so was my heart.