‘I’m not averse to the idea of soulmates,’ Heather said, ‘but I think we have a few of them for different aspects of our lives and personalities. We’re all multi-faceted, so to expect one person to satisfy all sides of us is a big ask. For example, I have one person for hanging out and going to the movies with, talking about books to, etc., you know – “cultural me”; another friend for “organic healthy me” to go hiking with, do yoga with, keep fit and get out in open spaces with; another mate for being “naughty me” with – drinking too many cocktails, having the occasional fag with; another for girlie stuff, shopping and spa days. Before I married Anita, I had one soulmate for sex, passion and great chemistry, but we had nothing to talk about, so I had another for romance and talking but the sex was crap, and I also had a third one for companionship and talking about politics and world news. I’m sure most people do the same. Lovers can all be different, like you can be down and dirty and try new things with one yet, with another, it wouldn’t feel right. To get all those aspects in one person would be like winning the lottery, so different folks for different times. Friends or soulmates don’t all have to be one sex, either. I’m sure I have soulmates who are men as well as women.’

‘Makes sense. But what about Anita?’ I asked. ‘Why did you marry her if you have different people for different sides of you?’

‘She fits a few of the categories, but I don’t expect her to satisfy every part of me. Like she would go ballistic if she knew that I had the occasional fag, so I keep my naughty soulmate, Jill, for when I fancy one. And of course, there’s a different kind of soulmate to be had in a pet.’

‘True. No one does unconditional love better than a dog.’

Heather hadn’t finished. ‘And I think if there was such a thing as a past life, then we’d remember them and there’s a reason that we don’t. Like all that, why are we here? stuff. What’s it all about? Those deep questions come on you at funerals when you’re standing there watching someone take off into the unknown and then are usually forgotten by the time you get to the wake in the pub. And why is that? Because it would drive you mad otherwise. Because we humans have pea brains, that’s why. Not in the sense that we’re stupid, but our intelligence is limited; even the most brainy of us don’t have answers to the big questions. It’s an arrogance to imagine that we could comprehend it all so, I say, just get on and experience day-to-day stuff, that’s what is real.’