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• Luna •

Rolling in her bed, Luna lay awake thinking about what it was like transitioning into another country subconsciously. Never in a million years would she have thought a moment like this could happen.

It couldn't have been real, so she led herself to believe.

It was mind-boggling to know her daughter could not see Amir because only she and he were tethered. She ruled out Sarah being part of the same species but then wondered about the rest of her family. Luna pondered if her older sister, Liberty, or their parents knew about this phenomenon and kept it secret.

As she strolled through her hallway and headed toward the kitchen, she was shocked when she found herself in a different one, spotting Amir pouring his food from a pan into a small bowl. Her nose twitched at the strong, spicy scent looming in the air.

"That smells delicious," Luna said, startling him; a few pieces of his meal fell to the floor. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's fine." He leaned down and wiped the mess he caused, wearing a long black tunic top, with loose-fitting pants settled comfortably around his waist.

"What are you cooking?"

"Chicken Karahi."

"It looks appetizing," she said, eyeing it.

"What do you guys like in Louisiana?"

"Mostly shrimp and Gumbo."

"Oh. I'll have to try that one of these days."

Amir took a small bite of his food, and it caused her to feel like she took a bite as well. The texture was rich and thick, with a hearty flavor compatible with all the ingredients inside.

"Are there other foods you like?"

"The South is known for fishing and hunting. I liked crawfish, but I eat more Italian food lately."

"I love Italian food myself. How long have you had your studio opened?"

"Five years," she told him. When she found a bottle of oil, she turned his way. "You could add some oil and try it out. See if you like it."

He laughed and then poured a little oil into his pan.

Slightly tasting his food, he nodded. "It tastes better. This is why I prefer Faisal's meals more than my own sometimes. He rarely forgets any ingredients."

"You're not so bad," she said, chuckling.

Tossing a thick length of hair over her shoulder, she took a step backward as he continued preparing his food. "Do you cook, Luna?"

"I'm not that good at it, besides baking chocolate chip cookies. I tried to make a simple recipe for Rice Krispy treats last year for Sarah's school, but I ended up leaving the spatula in the pan for too long. I stepped away for a moment to grab something else to add to the batter and I came back to notice half of the spatula was melted inside the mix."

Amir smiled a little as he shifted his pan to another burner. "At least you tried. That makes a great parent."

"I guess. But you don't know me as a parent yet."

"No, but I can sense things and how you feel comfortable around me," Amir said, keeping a steady gaze upon her.

A faint blush covered her cheeks, as thick lashes swept up and her eyes met his for a second. Then she looked away. As she browsed Amir's photographs posted on his refrigerator door, she felt astonished at how she was standing in his kitchen. In the back of her mind, it toiled with her that she had been in his home before, but she couldn't recall when.

Dipping the chicken into the sauce, he caught her gaze. "Do you have any hobbies?"

"It might seem boring, but I garden in my spare time and hold a plant sale."

"Nah. That's not boring," Amir said, slurping his food. "You get to plant seeds into the ground and watch the flowers grow into something . . . beautiful."

"I never thought of it that way," she said, taking a glance at a large plant settled near his front door.

Stepping backward, she peered her gaze around his spacious two-story home with glass windows everywhere. She could tell Amir was definitely a bachelor and had a unique style about himself.

"The view you're standing in is perfect for the sunrise and sunset," he said, shifting his eyes toward her.

The view was stunning, with magnificent mountains surrounding the area, and a hilltop looking relaxing, invigorating, arduous, meditative, and every shade in-between. She imagined herself lying outside on a lounge chair, breathing in the fresh air under bright sunlight.

"How long have you lived here?" she asked him.

"Two months. I went against my family's tradition and moved away from home."

"Oh. I see. So, you lived with your family even after you turned thirty?"

He nodded. "I moved out of my parent's home the moment I saw this house. There are five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a two-story structure, with a balcony attached to the outside of my bedroom. How could I not take it?"

"I can see you keep your place tidy."

"I try." Stepping away from the oven, he joined Luna beside the window and crossed his arms over his chest. "I had a visitor come by a few days ago, and he was not amused by how I was living. My living room was a mess at that moment, but I don't blame him."

"Did you know your visitor was going to stop by?" she asked, and he shook his head. "He should have informed you he was coming over, then."

"Well, in Mr. Malik's defense, he sent me a text message earlier that day. But I didn't check it until after the fact."

"Oh."

"That could have been my family who was knocking at my door. That would have been even more embarrassing. So, I've been keeping my place straightened ever since," Amir said, strolling back to his stove. "This is pretty much who I am. I live alone, most of the time."

"Most of the time?"

"My younger brother, Adnan, comes to stay some nights. He is eight years younger than me and sometimes needs a break from our parents." Luna shifted her gaze toward a picture of them on his fireplace mantle. "Do you have any siblings?"

"I have an older sister. Liberty."

"Are you two close?" he asked, and she nodded. "So are Adnan and me. I need to send him a quick text."

"Sure," Luna said, glancing around his living room.

Turning her neck toward a corner, she noticed the Holy Qur'an sitting on his coffee table and a picture of what looked like his parents standing beside him in front of a large mosque. The building looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't figure out where she'd seen it before.

Amir then cleared his throat and finished his text, then continued eating his food at his table. As they sat in silence, a few minutes had gone by and their scenery switched from his home to hers.

"The changing of locations is something I'll need to get used to," he said, his eyes traveling around her country-style living room.

"Transitioning from place to place is slowly growing on me," Luna expressed. "How did you learn about who we are?"

"Through Faisal. He's a chemist and works at the same medical research facility I do. One day I walked in on him speaking to a young blonde woman in the lounge. I have never seen her before and they were giggling about something when I stepped in through the doorway. I thought she was a new intern or an investor for the company."

"What happened next?"

"After I had smiled and waved, they were shocked I had noticed her. My abilities opened up around that time. I later learned her name, which is Cassandra. 'Cassie' for short."

"So, if you weren't part of the same species, then you would not have been able to see her?"

"That is correct," Amir answered. "Our species are rare. Nothing is wrong with us, but we are rare."

"How is our anomaly unknown to others? Surely, the world must know about us. I am sure some of the world leaders could be tethered souls."

"That's a good observation," Amir said. "There are important people who are tethered. As a scientist, and someone who works on projects ninety-nine percent of the time, there is also a particular paper I have to sign."

"A non-disclosure agreement."

"Exactly," Amir confirmed, taking a sip of his iced tea. "Faisal and I and everyone in the building sign them often. We can't utter a word about what we are conducting. I am sure many government officials keep the knowledge of our powers hidden for a reason."

"That's a scary thought. Of course, they'd know things and keep it to themselves."

"Can you blame them?" Amir questioned. "This sort of information could make the world more chaotic than it already is. People would do whatever they can to find the science behind our DNA."

"That's true. They'd probably pay good money for experimental treatments and such."

"Have you spoken to anyone about your newfound abilities?"

"How would I explain it?" Luna whispered. "Everyone would think I'd need help."

"This is hard to explain. I guess I was asking if you'd said anything to Chase or not," Amir inquired.

"No. I don't think I will. Not until I know more about what I can do."

Amir nodded and inched closer. "I understand and have told no one else about myself, either. Only Faisal knows."

"How often do your cousin and his partner see each other?"

"They see each other often, I'm sure. Cassie lives in Canada with her girlfriend and family, while Faisal is here in Pakistan. They help each other out with life issues and are a comfort to one another."

"I love that. I'm so intrigued by our connection and the things we can do."

Sitting up straighter, Luna caught Amir's gaze. "I wanted to ask you . . . Are arranged marriages in your family? I know little about Mera and her family, and their arrangements."

"Arranged marriages are organized, but it's my choice in the end of whom I choose. My family will pick someone and I'll decide if I want to meet with her."

"I'm sure your family's assistance in finding a potential partner for you is helpful," Luna said, realizing how her family differed from other families.

"Sometimes. I trust their judgment, especially since every marriage in my bloodline has lasted and was arranged marriages. There's never been a case of separation or divorce."

"Would your potential partner have to believe in Islam as well?"

"I'd be lying if I didn't prefer that my potential partner believes in the same faith as I do. I will respect her wishes if she didn't. I like a woman's personality above everything else, but I don't believe I could see a future with somebody who didn't believe in Islam."

"If you care about her personality, why would her choice of faith be a deal-breaker?"

"I understand your point," Amir remarked. "I guess being with someone like-minded is the goal."

"Maybe."

"Maybe? Why maybe?"

"My sister is dating a man who is from India and believes in Hinduism. She refers to herself as an atheist, and they never let their differences come between them."

"Hinduism differs from Islam, respectfully."

"True," Luna said. "However, it's the principle of who has your heart that makes a relationship work."

"What is your faith, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I am spiritual. I believe in a higher being. I don't know if it's God, or Gods, or even Goddesses."

"That's understandable. Does your fiancé believe in anything?"

"Chase came from an all Catholic family. But he refers to himself as Agnostic," Luna explained. "But if I wanted to attend a church one Sunday, he would join me."

"I'd do that as well. I'd rather experience something with my wife than be away from her."

Luna smiled at his admission.

"So, you aren't ruling out being with someone of a different faith or spirituality."

Amir turned his head to the side and ran a hand through his dark, bushy hair. "Faith is important to me, but so is my career. That is why I haven't gotten married yet. However, I am a believer in good things coming to those who wait."

"That's deep."

As Amir hopped up from his seat, he laid his dishes in his sink.

"What do you like to do when you aren't working?" she asked, looking in his direction.

"I exercise after work sometimes and try to see my family often. I'm close to my parents."

"I'm close to my father. I'm a daddy's girl at heart."

"Do you see your parents a lot?"

"Rarely," Luna mumbled, twiddling her thumbs. "When my parents separated this year, my father moved to California and my mother moved back to London, where she's from."

"Oh, I see. In our custom, Pakistani people try to stay close to their families. After learning about my abilities, I had accidentally distanced myself from my relatives until my aunt put me in my place recently. I'd stopped working as often and tried to never miss a moment with anyone. My family is everything."

"They are."

While sitting on her couch, her Dalmatian hopped up and she began stroking his fur. "Can my dog see you, Amir?"

"I'm sure he can," he replied, gazing downward at the medium-sized animal.

"That's not creepy at all."

The dog barked several times toward them as he chuckled.

"You are easy to talk to. I figured once you saw me in your studio, you'd turn me away and lock the door, Luna."

"I'd never turn you away. I saw you in my lobby, gazing around, looking like you were lost. I had to help you if you needed it."

"I'm glad you didn't shut me out," he said, flashing her a pearly white smile. "What is his name?"

"Oh, it's Otis. Chase and I found him when we first moved here. He was a small pup then and was alone."

"That's amazing. Many people wouldn't take in a stray animal."

"Do you have any pets?" she asked him, as their locations switched back into his living room.

"Just a goldfish in my bedroom," Amir answered, shifting his gaze toward his hallway. "I named him Pluto because he's tiny and stays in the back of the aquarium. I love all animals, but birds are more of my style. There's something about them flying and being able to settle anywhere that fascinates me."

"I love birds, too. They're beautiful to look at. I also have a golden retriever. Julius was eating on the back porch, but I'm not sure where he is now."

Before they could chat any longer, a car pulled up into Amir's driveway, and he hopped up to gaze out of the window.

"It's Cyrus. He's my friend from Lahore and had come a long way. He's staying over for a few days for a business opportunity."

"That's awesome," Luna said, as they watched Cyrus step out of his red Honda Accord and lock his car. "Have a great time with your friend."

"I'm glad I got to talk to you, Luna."

"Same here."

Amir's doorbell sounded, and Luna disconnected from him as she stood in her living room, reminiscing the conversation they had together. She felt herself light up knowing she was paired with him and knew she'd enjoy this phenomenon and his presence.

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Thank you all for reading. : )