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although the rarity of the phenomenon has most experts stumped. No one seems to be experiencing any severe problems aside from persistent headaches. In fact, most patients report heightened feelings of empathy towards their partner, especially once the headaches subside. Some couples have begun calling the phenomenon an emotional ‘bond’ although most reputable medical doctors feel that something physiological must certainly be causing the symptoms. As yet, no one understands how the marks on the skin occur, though they seem to be caused by a sudden surge of excess melatonin, possibly as a result of hormonal fluctuations. What has most experts stumped is that each couple’s tattoos are identical.”
    After broadcasting a few interviews with people who’d been affected by the mysterious “bond,” the show cut to commercial. Emma turned off the television and chewed mechanically. She wasn’t the only one experiencing this weirdness, but why did she have two tattoos instead of one? And she wasn’t involved with anyone. She hadn’t dated seriously since college, yet all the other victims were part of a couple. Absently, she fished the limp croutons from her lunch and tossed them in the trash. She knew her tattoos had something to do with Duncan and Jake. She could feel her bond to them. To both of them. That was probably why she had two tattoos. Emma sighed. She was bonded to two people at the same time? How was this going to work? She set her salad aside and dropped her face in her hands, not even flinching when the door to the office opened and Julie walked in.
    “Hey, you feeling any better?” Julie asked, setting her purse on the desk next to Emma’s.
    Emma looked up and then grabbed her lunch again, spearing a few more limp pieces of lettuce as she nodded. “I’m okay, I think.” She took a few more bites, forcing herself to swallow the lettuce, then gave up, dropping her fork with a huff. “Okay, okay, I’m a little freaked out, actually.”
    “Freaked out? Why? What’s wrong?” Julie sat in an empty chair near Emma. “You just have a bad headache, right?”
    Emma sighed then rolled her sleeves up. “Look.”
    Julie frowned and leaned over. “Hey, those look like those tattoos that people are getting. I saw it on the news last night.”
    Emma nodded.
    “Except, wait, why do you have two?” Julie asked, confused. “And I heard that only couples are getting them, and you’re not dating anyone.”
    “I don’t know why I have two.” Emma let her arms drop to her lap, uneasy about explaining her suspicions to Julie. “Between the headaches and then this, I don’t really know what’s going on at all.”
    “I wonder if more people are getting the tattoos than are coming forward and talking about them,” Julie speculated. She eyed Emma’s arms, looking at her friend curiously. “Are you dreaming about anyone?”
    “You know who I dreamed about, Julie. But that’s crazy. I’ve never even listened to his music.”
    “What about Jake?” Julie asked.
    “What about him?” Emma deliberately avoided the question.
    “Did you dream about him, too?” Julie pressed. Emma shrugged and looked away from Julie’s eager face. “Oh my God, you did!” Julie said, voice rising. “Seriously?”
    Emma sighed. “Yeah. And I could swear that I hallucinated about them today, while I was awake.”
    “While you were awake? What do you mean?” Julie looked increasingly excited.
    “I was in the bathroom and my head hurt, so I closed my eyes and tried to relax. Suddenly, I saw Duncan looking at me, but when I looked down, I wasn’t myself. I was Jake. I could tell by the hands.” Emma shook her head then looked at her friend. Julie’s eyes were wide. “And when I opened my eyes again, the scene faded, but I can still feel something. It’s like they’re in the back of my head.” Emma sighed. “I can’t really explain it.” She looked at Julie. Her friend was perched on the edge of her seat.