terracinque | Part One of a serial rough draft (Reply)

We fell. It seemed like we were constantly falling, or being lifted. This time we fell into water, and this also was not unusual.

As I sank into the cool water, I looked around for my mate. I didn't see him, but it was a big room and there were many, many others in it with us. Some of the others were like us, others vastly different, but only my mate, my twin, was exactly like me. I had a brief moment of panic, but reassured myself: we'd be reunited soon enough. After all, we belonged to each other. We'd been together since the beginning and would remain together until the end. Who could doubt that? No one, of course. These temporary separations were nothing to be concerned about.

I felt foolish whenever I had those panic attacks. None of the others ever seemed to have them, but then many of them weren't pairs like my mate and I. They didn't understand what it's like to have your whole identity bound up into someone else's so inextricably. I couldn't imagine life as a singleton, nor did I even want to. My mate, my partner, was the other half of my soul. I was nothing without him.

The water began to swirl clockwise, or counter-clockwise (how would I know?) and we all swam our laps. The water never heated up. It never does for those of us of color. We don't mind. It's still a nice, relaxing break from our regular existence.

Later, after the water drained away, we lay in the bottom for a while, waiting. I finally saw my mate across the way, but couldn't get to him through the crowd. I didn't need to; just seeing him there calmed the butterflies somewhat. Was I too insecure? Who could say? I didn't know how to be any other way.