it starts in an american cold war research lab, because its it’s 1953 and the marginal tax rate is 92% so science has government funding out the wazoo

theres a scientist, lets call him jon, if you give a shit about continuity you can pretend hes any jon you want. hes working with clocks and what he is describing as “soul energy.” he wants to determine when the user will die, to gain an edge on the reds

he’s the first to test the device out. he sticks his finger in the little port. he has five minutes left.

he does not die. instead, a lovely young lab assistant walks into the room for the first time. because this is the 50s, there is no HR telling him he shouldnt ask her to dinner. the thing is, theyre both really compatible. theyre married within a year. the device is patented in two.

soul energy does not give a shit about the differences between platonic and romantic and familial and professional love. jon’s formula, though he doesnt know it, takes a few things into account. different markers in common will increase a compatibility “score.” a shared language does more than you would expect. the average person will meet 80,000 people in their lifetime. that narrows down the timer count from 7 billion to something more likely.

different companies race to develop their own permutations of this device. skin contact is always required. some are kitschy heart-shaped pendants. one is an incredibly tacky bakelite hair clip. the most enduring version is implanted in the skin of the inner wrist, pissing off parents and grossing out little brothers everywhere.

there is no limit to how many timers you can put on your body. theres a dude in the guinness book of world records with 157. several are in his armpits, because he’s running out of room. he will meet all of them, and all of them will be just enough like him to have some absolute baller times.

as soulmates begin to be more normalized, so are other things. laws against homosexuality and interracial marriage are quietly repealed. hospital visitation rights are granted. some churches refuse to marry anyone who isnt marrying their match. other places refuse service to anyone openly wearing a timer.

then the 80s hit. woof. before, timers were a sign of teenage rebellion, the freedom of young adulthood. now those teens are parents of their own. timers are ingrained in the culture. it becomes popular to get timers for younger and younger children. mattel has their own lines of pink and blue timers. platonic timers start being marketed, even though there is no fundamental difference in the soul energy. compatibility is compatibility, no matter what. 

fast forward to the now times. people dont think its very cash money to permanently force destiny on young children. different types of timers start becoming more popular. you walk down the street and see a guy with gauges that are like tiny little egg timers. ding! some are like mood rings that turn redder the sooner you meet them. 

the technology is cool. it is also a mark of privilege. people get shit for getting their timers at claires. the rest of the world thinks america is full of fucking weirdos for believing in destiny so hard (theyre kind of right).

in a world of constant alienation, the idea of soulmates is appealing. it’s a promise of love without any mortifying ordeals. it is saying that there is someone for everyone, that no one has to be alone for no good reason. you will meet someone, and you will be known.