What We've Been Waiting For (Part 1 of "This Our Soul")

Rose texted him about the rubber snake they used to hide to freak each other out. She wanted to know where it was so she could hide it for Dad's birthday.

James remembered very well where he had seen it last. As for where it was now... Well. He responded with what was only a tiny lie.

Rose was disappointed. But what else could he say? "Sorry, Sis, but it vanished into thin air... and thus freaked me out way more than it ever did sitting in the bathtub..."

It wasn't like convincing Rose he didn't remember was so hard. It was just... this was the first time anybody had brought up his disappearing-objects problem (albeit unknowingly). Every time he thought about it, that aching Tug in his chest revved up. He'd think about that flicker of a memory in the library back home... how he'd lost Something he couldn't explain. Now here he was, in this tiny town of Donally, searching for that same Something and helpless to explain why he couldn't leave, even for Dad's 50th birthday party.

James Collins has been waiting his whole life for Something he can't explain. Chouko Miura has as well. When they finally meet at the place their hearts seem drawn to, they find much bigger consequences than they expect.