Just a Side Character

When One Story Ends, Another Begins.

My job is Side-Character. The whole purpose of all of my lives is to make sure the Main Characters get together or with their intended person.

The problem is, in today’s age, people don’t care about getting together. The Girl wants to have fun, go to school, or be independent. The Boy doesn’t care, worries about sports or has a fantastic job opportunity.

When I was first starting this job, it was easy. Me and my counterparts, the other Side Characters, are born and create relationships with the Main Characters. Getting them together was simple, slipping a love note under a door, making them meet up ‘accidentally’, or even making comments to the Main about the Love Interest.

But through generations, love and romance have changed. The Mains worry about career, family, jobs, school, basically everything except love!

That just meant I had to work harder. In the end, though, it was always worth it.

“I told you it would work.”

I looked to my left to see Jason, the other Side Character. His grin was wide as his eyes remained focused on the happy couple.

“Yeah, after years of us working together. If it weren’t for us, they never would have gotten married. They would end up missing something they never had.”

We both went quiet as the bride and groom started their first dance. They really were perfect for each other, just like the Writer intended. One person always made up for it where the other lacked.

“Well, I guess our job is done.”

“Don’t be so silly, Jason.” I let out a laugh, and he faced me. “Is this your first job? Marriage brings on whole new troubles that the Writer uses for growth. If we left now, they could end up ruining their relationship.”

He groaned, and I laughed at him; this was so his first job.

“So, we remain as babysitters for the rest of this life?”

“Why yes, that is the whole purpose of us being reborn. We help others find themselves and happiness. Once they do that, we go back home until the Writer needs us to help another couple.”

He leaned his elbow on the table, holding up his head. “Don’t you get tired of it, Lexie? I mean, this is my first job, but you’ve worked hundreds-”

“394, actually, coming up on the big 400!”

He glared at me, making me shrink back. “My point exactly. You’ve helped practically 400 couples meet up, live, and have a family. You’ve lived through generations, since Shakespeare’s time! And yet, you haven’t done anything for you.”

“Well, I,”

I didn’t have an answer; Jason was right.

I died hundreds of years ago and was recruited by the Writer to help them create happiness for those that wouldn’t find it on their own. Since then, I have been working for them, reborn after each job, and then receiving another. For 400 years, I had spent it all helping others. Was that really so bad?

“It’s been years, you can take your retirement and finally be reborn like everyone else. Maybe after a couple of lifetimes, you can be a Side-Character again. I mean, do you even remember anything from your original life?”

“That’s not important, Side-Character Jason. What we need to focus on is the Mains and make sure this wedding goes perfectly.”

And it did. The dance was wonderful, the music beautiful and the drive away was enchanting.

But the thought wouldn’t leave my mind. The truth is, I don’t remember who I was before I became a Side. Not my name, my family, or anything else. I don’t even remember my first couple of reincarnations, everything just blurs together.

Still, I’m helping people, and there wouldn’t be anything else I would want to do with my life. I’ve lived as a royal servant, a fairy guide, an old mentor, and even just a friend. I’ve been to so many different worlds, there is so much more out there other than Earth. Exploration, romance, and service, it was a worthy cause. Right?

Jason and I finished cleaning up with other parents and friends. Soon, the church was empty, and all signs of the magical evening were gone.

“Just think about what I said, Lexie.” Jason turned to look at me when he stopped. “I’m going to be Reborn as an average person. Maybe you should too.”

Jason then walked away, leaving me with too many questions and not enough answers.

I liked helping people. That was something I could never forget. Throughout all my lives that has been my purpose. Help the Main find happiness and move the plot along. I worked with the Writer to make these worlds, I built relationships, lied, and manipulated; whatever needed to happen for the person to have their eternal happiness.

Lost in thought, I started to wander to my car. I had years to think about this though, I wouldn’t die and go back to the Writer until my job was done with Delilah and William Burke. Until then, I could think about my future and what I planned with my next life.

I never even saw the car heading straight for me.

The next thing I knew, I was back in the Library.

“Best Friend Dying plot point, huh?”

As usual, no one was in the Library, and I was dressed in white.

Everyone has their own version of a Heaven. Eternal family bonding, time alone, or whatever. Those that have to desire to live another life come here after death, a place to live again; the Library.

Each book was another world, another story, another romance or tragedy. Each hour there was another story, someone else finding happiness.

“You know how well that works. Grief, love, pain, and joy, are all connected. You did well.”

The Writer was never seen; no one I had talked to had ever seen them. They were just a voice, a planner, the creator. They selected people to become their stories and watch it all unfold.

“I have another story waiting for you, a magical realm of wonder.”

“What was my name?”

The Writer paused while I walked up and down the aisles.

I shouldn’t have asked, but I just had to. The Writer knew everything, they must have known who I was hundreds of years ago. I just wanted to know who I used to be, my life, and my family.

“You do not remember?”

I brushed the backs of the books, tingles from leftover magic racing up my arm. I could feel the Writer's presence with me as I walked around my old lives.

“It has been too long, old friend. That is an easy fix, I can send you to your own book. You will be wiser but most of the plot will happen the same way.”

Years, and years ago, I decided to be reborn, I didn’t want to rest for eternity or anything like that. There must have been a reason, a bad relationship, or maybe I was treated terribly my whole life. I didn’t need to know, helping others made me happy enough and I loved seeing these new worlds.

“Katherine Moland. That is all I remember. For more details, I would have to reopen your book.”

I stepped back from the shelves, their magical warmth leaving me.

“What’s the plot?”

“Somewhat cliché romance, the Main finds out they have powers, they find out they need to save the world, and along the way, falls in love with another in the party. Will you do it? You would be a part of the party and would be there to support both Mains.”

One day, maybe I would rest or be reborn as the Main-Character. But, until then I will explore and help those around me. I looked up at the ceiling, the night sky staring back. I smiled at the invisible Writer.

“Yes, I’ll be a Side-Character, that’s my job after all.”