Prologue - Jasmine
Yup, this is me, 35, single, living in London, one of the most amazing cities in the world.
A buzzing city full of beautiful people, diversity and culture, amazing cuisines, a fashion capital, the financial quarter, the home to time itself - and still, no husband and no kids.
It isn't through lack of attention, or trying. The regular pings on my Bumble app is a testament to that. Eurgh, don't get me started on dating apps, the conveyor belt of doom.
Dry conversations, the same boring questions, 'so what do you do for fun?', and my favourite of all time, unsolicited dick pics, ick much?
I'd describe myself as an educated, classy woman, with a slight edge of hood. I take care of myself, dress well and work out four times a week religiously.
I'm a curvy 5 ft 3 inches and thanks to my South Asian heritage, I was blessed with honey-toned skin, big chocolate brown eyes framed with naturally long, thick lashes, full lips and dark brown curly hair that reaches the small of my back.
For 35, I'm not doing too bad, and don't get me wrong, I still get admiring glances when I'm out and about, but I don't know how to explain it. I just feel like the men aren't 'menning' if you get my drift?
Or maybe I'm just so focused on my peace that I'm unwilling to allow anything or anyone to disturb it?
I do pretty well for myself, my journalist consultancy job pays for my cute one-bed flat in Greenwich and life's little luxuries. I can support myself and I have built a life and tight community of friends since moving to the city to study my journalism degree at the age of 18.
I'd say I'm pretty happy girl-bossing in my own way, enjoying the city I live in, travelling when I can and balancing quality time with my friends and family.
But I guess I've always felt like something is missing. A special partner to share all of life's quirks and precious moments with. Someone I can start a family with and build a home with.
Yes, there's been previous relationships, but time and time again I've found myself walking away from disappointing situations that I have invested far too much of myself into.
I just want..No, I need, that deep, earth-shattering soul mate connection, you know? I just crave a depth in a partnership that I haven't yet found. Someone that just gets it, and gets me.
Like, can my dreamboat husband just have special powers of emotional intelligence and unwavering loyalty and trust so we can skip to the good part?
Ha! Maybe I've just been reading way too many spicy werewolf novels. But there's something primal and raw in those stories that just call to me. The unwavering and ironclad connection between two people, or destined 'mates' - it just seems so magical, so solid...and pretty hot if I don't say so myself!
Here's to power of manifestation...
