Thump, thump, thump

Clarisse’s heartbeat is steady as a beating drum, a rhythm you’d come to memorize and savor over the course of your relationship. It was proof— proof she was alive, proof she would come back, proof she knew where home was.

You laid on her chest, savoring the familiar sound. Absently, you wonder if your heartbeats ever synced, if they were timed together.

You haven’t seen her for a few months, she’s sent letters but it’s not the same. The clock on your bedside table reads 3:24AM, you have school in the morning, but how could you care right now?

Clarisse was here from Camp Half-Blood, even if temporarily, even if secretly. She was here, and she was yours.

“When humans were first made,” Clarisse starts, her soft voice echoes in the quiet room. Her voice was just as strong as the rest of her, confident in ways you couldn’t help but feel butterflies at.

“We were made with double limbs, and eyes, and faces. But, he thought we would be too powerful.” You scrunch yours nose at the prospect of having two faces, and watch as the corner of Clairsse’s lips tick upward at your action.

“So, he tore us in half. Now, people search the world looking for their soulmates.”