I’m not one to believe in soul mates, but if I did, then mine lives in California. I met them 1 day into my unplanned, sporadic 3 month camping and hiking journey up and down the west coast. After a night together, and an immediate connection beyond understanding, we ended up having 2 other magical adventures happen during the rest of my time out there. This was nearly 4 years ago.

We kept on touch for a while, on and off, until we planned a trip to meet up again and backpack on Kauai for two weeks together... in April 2020. That obviously didn’t happen. I was devastated, and then the emotions became a bit too intense and it was difficult to live so far away from one another. We don’t talk anymore, it’s not realistic to, and they are now in a relationship. I know this “what if” will linger on throughout my life. It’s boggling to know that there are people who are so compatible with you, but so inaccessible, and I mostly try to not think about it.