Magic, for you, was nothing more than a fanciful notion spun from the pages of fairy tales or the fantasies of children. The idea of soulmates, too, seemed utterly absurd. It felt laughable.

But that was before you stumbled upon the enigmatic shop tucked away in a narrow alley. You had entered more out of curiosity than belief, dismissing the strange artifacts and whispers of magic as mere parlor tricks. Yet, even as you perused the peculiar items lining the shelves, you couldn’t shake off the thought that the sharp stings you had experienced over the years were nothing more than figments of your imagination—phantom pains without cause.

Then, you heard the old woman behind the counter speak of a phenomenon that made your skin crawl: the notion that these random, inexplicable pains were linked to your soulmate's suffering somewhere out there in the world. The idea seemed ludicrous, almost insulting. How could anyone honestly believe that such an ethereal thread connected two people? Yet, as you dismissed her words, a strange knot twisted in your stomach—a mix of unease and unexplainable longing.

It was during one of those aimless strolls that you met him—an unexpected encounter that felt like a scripted moment from a film, yet terrifyingly real. The moment your eyes locked, an electric jolt coursed through you, igniting sensations you couldn't explain. The man stood there, a stranger yet somehow familiar, his eyes reflecting a depth of sorrow and resilience. It was his scars, though, that drew you in— he had scars in all places you’ve felt pain.