Since I was a young man
Little more than a boy
I searched for it, my holy grail
The key that would unlock me
The piece of the puzzle that would complete me

My reflection, my soul mate
I looked everywhere
But no love at first sight
No lightning bolts, no electric shocks
I searched for years for my perfect other

But that?s not right, I didn?t seek perfection
I didn?t have a set of criteria
Not Hair colour, eyes, height, shape
Accent, social background, interests or age
I didn?t have a vision of her

I didn?t even know what I sought
But when I saw her I would know
Not that I went hunting
I didn?t engage in quests or pursuits
I knew that if it was supposed to happen it would
If I were fated to be alone, then so be it

So I went about my living, my life
Work, friends, family holidays in the lakes
And I had a very happy life
Not an empty existence
Just a feeling of incompleteness

One of the pleasures of life for me
Was inhabiting books shops
Proper bookshops with rows of leather and vellum
Shelves full of old friends
Dickens, Buchan, Lewis, Too many to name

One day I stood thumbing a well-read volume
And I dropped it to the floor inexplicably
I stooped to retrieve it
But another hand reached it first
As we both stood up
I breathed her scent, then I met her gaze
And saw the smile on her lips and in her eyes

As she placed the book in my hand
Our fingers touched for the briefest moment
And a tingle of electricity passed between us
Ah, there you are, I said to myself