#zack.001

     she knew almost immediately because her temporary partner (the tube of blue glitter) vanished from her bag, and she felt a strange, supernatural pull towards someone else.

     this was not what she wanted. she had no interest in this partnering system, even if it had some practical purpose of “lessening the strain on her soul.” she didn’t want to be paired with a random stranger. she didn’t need it.

     and not to mention that she already had a partner. (in her eyes, at least.) she didn’t need a new person. she already had him, whether he was here o not. and considering they were (apparently) dead, it might be better if he wasn’t here.

     even if she admitted she missed him.

     but there was no getting around this. if she tried to walk away, it would hurt her. she risked collapsing. it wouldn’t be good. probably. so at her own pace, she followed the direction of the tug.

     she wondered what her partner would like, since the topic was on her mind, even if it wouldn’t affect her too much. she would adjust to them, live with being with them and even being invisibly attached to them,  for what was all of eternity. she was stuck with them, and she would learn to live with it. it couldn’t be too hard. she didn’t care.

     and maybe, someday, she would see her real partner again.

     aware of the fact that every step she brought was lessening the pulling sensation, she figured that meant she was getting closer to the time to meet that new person. she could just barely make out their figure--

     wait.

     ...huh?

     her mouth hung ever so slightly, her eyes widened. it was, perhaps, the most emotion she’d shown since her arrival in this place.

     it wasn’t only surprise that filled her heart. there was disbelief, and even joy. she couldn’t take another step forward. she whispered to herself, if only because he might be too far away to hear her...

     “...zack..?”