"There are scars on this body you can see. Scars you can ask about. There are scars on this soul you can't see. Scars you might not dare to ask about. So I ask you, what scars do you want to see? What scars do you want to know about? The ones you can see? The safe ones. Or the ones that you can't see? The unsafe ones. The ones that truly matter."

Seth was enthralled by the woman on stage. Her hair was long, wavy and chocolate brown. Her eyes were blue-green. It felt like she was ripping out her entire soul for the world to see as she was talking about her scars. He felt like he could connect with her on so many levels. He too had a lot of scars. Outer scars from wrestling, inner scars from all the bullshit he had experienced in his life and never told the world about. Secrets. Dirty, little secrets that he longed to share with someone.

"She's good. I can feel her pain," Corey said.
"Yeah," Seth mumbled.

When Corey suggested that Seth came with him to this club that did open mic nights, Seth hadn't been too keen on the idea at first. He figured the place would be packed with people singing their own songs, hoping someone would spot them and offer them a career. And they were there, the hopeful singers. Most of them were really good. But there were other people as well. People like the chocolate haired woman who clearly was done hiding behind a facade of fake smiles and bravery. As if anyone was brave by hiding away how they truly felt.

"Damn!" Corey mumbled.

He started clapping along with everyone else. The woman was done reading her poem about her scars. She took a bow and stepped down from the stage. Someone walked up there with a guitar and started singing. Seth blocked out the singer and followed the woman with his eyes. She went to the bar and talked to the bartender as if she knew him. He handed her a shot that she slammed down. She leaned over the counter and hugged the bartender, and then she aimed for the door. Before Seth knew what he was doing, he got up from his seat and followed behind.

"Hey, wait up!" He called.

The woman stopped and turned around. Cars drove by them as he jogged up to her.

"You were really good in there," he said.
"Thank you," she said.
"You probably hear this a lot but I really felt your pain. And I wanna know more. I wanna know about your scars," he said.
"I actually don't hear that a lot. People clap and cheer for each other in there but no one asks questions. We're all accepted the way we are," she said.
"So tell me," he said.
"Spill my guts to a stranger? I've seen enough horror movies to know that can end up biting me in the ass," she said.

She gave him a smile that let him know she wasn't being as serious as she sounded. Her smile made her even more beautiful. He really wanted to know more about her. Everything he could.

"I'm Seth," he said.
"Nice to meet you, Seth," she said.
"And you are?" He asked.
"On my way home," she winked. "Goodbye, Seth."

She took a few steps backwards while she continued smiling at him.

"Do you believe in love at first sight and in being soulmates?" She asked.
"I didn't until tonight," he answered honestly.
"I'm Teal," she said.
"Teal," he smiled. "Can I see you again?"
"That's up to you," she said.

She turned around and walked away. He stayed on his spot and watched her leave. It was up to him. It wasn't exactly a full yes but it wasn't a no either. It was all up to him, and the message was very clear. He would have to come back if he wanted to see her again. He walked back inside and sat back down.

"Where did you go?" Corey asked.
"To meet my soulmate," Seth answered.
"I'm cutting you off. You sound way too drunk," Corey chuckled.
"Drunk on love," Seth chuckled too. "I'm serious, Corey. I just met my soulmate."