Alexander never did bother to check the news. It wasn’t that he didn’t care or was too lazy, he simply couldn’t concentrate. The past couple of days had been nothing more than haze. Or at least that was how it felt. How he managed to get through work he really didn’t understand, he was probably just on autopilot. Luckily, the book store never really seemed to get all that busy. A couple of usual’s came in, but that was about it. He had to be getting sick, that was the only explanation that he could come up with. 

Hell he knew he was, because at one point he could have sworn that one of his regulars, Mrs. Ruth, eyes had changed colors, and it almost seemed like she was being followed by a herd…flock?....of pigeons. But that was crazy, who ever heard of a person being stocked by a group of pigeons, unless she was giving them too much bred. But it was stranger than that, when Alexander mentioned the birds the sweet old lady got almost, defensive. He saw that she kept glancing out the window, almost like she was making sure that they were still there, or that no one was bothering them. It was odd to say the least, but Alexander was probably just imagining things, yes that had to be it.

Alexander rubbed his temples lightly, letting out a little groan as he did so. He wondered if anyone would care if he just went home early. No one would probably notice, it wasn’t like his manager ever came in, and today had been relatively dead. 

“Screw it.” He said out loud, to no one in particular. He was allowed to have a damn sick day every now and then. As he began to cash out the register his urge to leave grew ever greater. He found himself rushing to empty the register and lock it in the safe. Something was calling to him. He couldn’t explain it, he couldn’t comprehend it, but something was pulling on his subconscious. No that was crazy talk, he was just sick, that was all. He just needed to get home, and quickly. 

He closed the door and locked it behind him, fumbling slightly with the keys as he did so. The calling was even stronger outside…was that even possible? How could it be, he was just sick after all. But with each step he took towards home the more he knew that this was no sickness. There really WAS something calling to him. He could hear her cry vibrate through his very being. It was both horrifying and incredible at the same time. A sudden longing to run to the force that called to him so strongly erupted inside of him. He wasn’t sure how he knew it was a female that called to him, or where she was, but he did. He ran. He ran faster than he had ever run before, like the wind was pushing him towards the special, astounding presence that had sought him out from miles away. 

He could hear her now, a soft ‘whoooo’ that vibrated through the wind and struck him in the chest like a brick. He ran faster. He was so close he could feel her, like a beacon of light, like a promise of companionship, a savior from the monotony and emptiness he had felt for so long. He had always been alone; he had always known it, he had just never really felt it quite as strong as he did at this exact moment. Parents who had been there, but had always cared more about themselves than their son. Friends who had “outgrown” him, or who were only around when they thought he could do something for them. Everyone who he had met and forgotten over the years, they had left a hole inside his chest, one that he had covered up behind an un-interested stare and the books that he sold in order to stay alive. But now he could feel it, he could feel all the pain he had hidden for so long rush to the surface of his consciousness. 

Alexander stopped suddenly. He felt like a weight was pushing down on him from every side. He looked around slowly, she was here. He had made it. He looked all around him, but he couldn’t see anything. Where was she? She had to be here, he could feel her. A soft ‘whoo’ caused him to look up slowly towards a large oak that stood right in front of him. She stood out like a diamond surrounded by coals. Soft white and brown feathers, strong, knowing eyes, talons as sharp as daggers but that could be as gentle as silk. That was her, that was the one who called to him so ferociously. 

Slowly he lifted his right arm out to her, his body trembling with excitement and fear. Fear that he wasn’t worthy; fear that this was a dream or a trick; fear that she would run from him. Swiftly, the snowy owl pushed herself off of the branch and glided silently towards Alexander’s outstretched arm. With incredible grace and precision her talons lander down on Alexander’s arm and wrapped around it lightly. 

It was like an explosion inside of Alexander’s head. He knew her, everything about her. From her birth, to her first clutch of eggs, to now. He knew how incredibly brave and strong she was, how kind and loving she could be, and how she had flown over mountains, tress, and half a continent, just to find him.

The emptiness that he had felt vanished, like it had never been there in the first place. It was replaced with an unfaltering love and devotion that Alexander and the snowy owl felt towards each other. She completed him in a way no one else could have. He knew without a doubt, he would never be alone again. 

As their conscious touched he was overwhelmed by a sudden image of the owls feeling. Without words or explanation he knew, he was hers, and to her, he was special. He couldn’t help but smile and laugh as he gently lifted his arm towards himself and touched the beautiful owl’s head with his own. He still didn’t know what this all meant, and quite frankly he didn’t give a damn. He was finally complete.