Six months Later

Amelia's alarm cut through the 3 a.m. darkness like a knife through butter. She briefly considered turning it off, rolling over, and forgetting the whole thing entirely. What on earth had made her think that running off to remote Scotland for six weeks was a good idea? She was meant to be considering her future, applying for jobs, and making important life decisions. She was not meant to be gallivanting around a foreign country, and interviewing farmers. Besides, it was the middle of December and it was going to be cold!

It was also only a week off Christmas and it suddenly dawned on Amelia just how different this one was going to be. She was on her own again!

Well, if I'm going to be alone, I'm not going to be alone here!

She pushed the covers back and swung out of bed, reaching for the leggings and sweater that she’d laid out the night before. Everything was neatly packed and waiting by the door—a suitcase to check, a small carryon and her laptop bag. She’d always been proud of being a light packer. She pulled on her heavy parka, glad not to have had to try to stuff it into her suitcase, and jammed her feet into her snow boots. They’d likely be a bit too warm on the plane, but she could always get away with stashing them in the overhead with her luggage and putting on slippers from her carryon. She knew she would need them once she got to Scotland.

The weather forecast was downright awful. The whole country was going to be gripped by bitingly cold weather, wind, and a lot of snow for the foreseeable future. Amelia was used to Chicago weather so was no stranger to harsh winters but, by all accounts, she was heading into something very bad even by Great Lakes standards.

Her professor had suggested that if the trip went well, there might be a second grant for a trip to see the spring operations. Amelia had been warned again that the conditions were very rustic, and she tried not to worry too much even though she wasn’t exactly used to roughing it.

The first leg of her flight was to New York. Amelia tried not to think about the irony as she settled in to her seat on the plane, putting in her earplugs and hoping that she might get some sleep. The plane was scheduled to take off at five-thirty in the morning, and she was already feeling the effects of the three ‘o’clock wakeup.

“How long will we have to wait?” Amelia asked the gate attendant. News of the flight delay due to bad weather wasn’t making her feel any better about the rest of the trip.

“I’m not sure,” the gate attendant said, clicking away at her computer screen. “Once the weather patterns become more predictable, they’ll let us know. If it’s overnight, we’ll put you up in a hotel.”

Amelia briefly considered booking a flight back home. Maybe this was a sign that she wasn’t supposed to be doing this, that it was a foolish idea.

She took a seat in the waiting area, leaned back and let out a long sigh. Christmas carols were playing throughout the airport, and she thought of her undecorated apartment. The cloud that settled over her with that thought was enough to make up her mind. She wasn’t going home. She’d just have to tough the Scotland adventure out.

Eventually the gate attendant announced that the flight was delayed until the next morning, and that they’d give the passengers food and hotel vouchers. Amelia tried to be gracious when she picked hers up, but she felt like yelling. The longer that they were delayed, the more the knot in the pit of her stomach, along with her doubt, grew. On the Uber ride to the hotel, her phone chimed, and she saw that it was a message from David.

In Scotland yet?

After some procrastination, she’d called him to let him know what her plans were. She’d waited until the last minute to tell him, not wanting to take the chance that he might try to talk her out of it. They had remained on cordial terms despite everything and she suspected that he hadn't written off the idea of them getting back together again. Amelia told herself that it was over for good, but she still wasn't completely sure that was the case.

She tapped her thumbnail against the phone screen, wondering if she should bother replying. She felt a small rush of satisfaction at the thought of making him wait for a response. He’d probably be packing up for his own move tonight. He was due to start at his new job on Monday. The firm had allowed him a six-month sabbatical to decompress from his college years. Amelia almost laughed out loud at the level of privilege that signified.

She put her phone back into her bag.

It wasn’t until she was settled into the hotel, and had taken a bath and was curled up on the bed in a terrycloth robe that she pulled her phone out again, and typed out a quick response.

Flight delayed. Overnight in Manhattan.

She put her phone down and aimlessly clicked through some cable channels. Twenty minutes later the text came in. Let me know if you’re delayed any longer. I’ll be in the city day after tomorrow.

I don’t think it will be delayed past tomorrow. Do you really think it would be a good idea to see each other?

Probably not but I miss you.

Her heart skipped a beat. He missed her. Was he feeling the same sense of oddness and loneliness that she was?

She hesitated for a moment before typing: I miss you, too

The phone chimed within seconds of her hitting send.

That’s good to know. Any word on jobs????

Not yet, she replied. I’ll let you know once I decide. More worried about getting to Scotland in one piece right now.

You’ll be fine. Let me know when you arrive.

Will do. The messaging was making her want to turn around and go back home, to pack up her things and move to New York with him, to be with him. Deep down though, she knew that she was doing the right thing.

Good night, Mel.

She put her phone on the nightstand and changed into her pajamas, wondering if he would text her again. He didn't.