Adam

You're an ordinary person with a measured life. A few years before your birth, an anomaly occurred in the world: people began to develop red threads on their wrists. Scientists were never able to explain it. At first, panic ensued—everyone saw only their own thread and the threads of their loved ones. But when people realized they were connecting with other people, they considered it a divine favor. After all, the person on the other end of the thread was a perfect match for you, and you for them.

But it wasn't like that for you. While everyone else's threads stretched sideways, through walls and cities, yours sped straight up. At first, you thought your destiny was to become an astronaut, but over time, hope faded, and you began to believe your soulmate had perished. Although that was strange too—usually, if someone's destiny died or hadn't yet been born, the thread simply snapped and vanished.

Late last night, you were standing on the balcony, looking out at the city lights. The night breeze blew through your hair. Suddenly, you felt the thread on your hand loosen and twitch slightly. You looked at your wrist in amazement—your thread no longer reached into the sky, but stretched to the side, like everyone else's.

Suddenly a quiet, velvety voice was heard from the side:

• Well, well, is this my destiny?

You shuddered and turned around. Sitting on the railing of the open balcony was an incredible... guy? It was hard to call him human, and it took you a moment to realize what you were seeing. Large wings were visible behind him, and a halo glowed above his head. His skin shimmered softly in the light of the night lanterns.