“Love is an irresistible desire,

to be irresistibly desired.”

~ Robert Frost

 

We land at London Heathrow, and it’s raining. You’d think I’d be disappointed by this, by the huge grin on my faces says otherwise. It’s just how I pictured it would be. London wouldn’t be right if it wasn’t raining. I mean, it’s just a light rain, and I can see the sun fighting through, but part of the joy of England is how predictably unpredictable the weather is, and I love it.

“You excited Mrs. Knight?” Mason asks, his smile matching mine.

“Yes, husband, I’m more than ready!”

“I know we’re not here for long, but we’ll come back and explore more once you’re a big fancy doctor.”

“Deal!”

We make our way through the airport and after collecting our bags, we grab the train that will take us into the heart of London. Everyone is so polite, saying sorry for everything. It’s kind of adorable. I’m so glad we came to London before heading home. With everything we’ve been through, we’ve learnt it’s best to live now; do what we want, experience the things we want to experience, because who knows when life will be taken from you?

The moment those two shots rang out, our lives changed, for better or worse, but we survived. We lived. And I don’t intend on wasting even one second of this precious lifetime I now get to share with Mason. I know a lot of people think he changed me, but the reality is, he just gave me the room and the courage to be who I’ve always been. I’m not going to say he didn’t change my life, because he did, in so many ways, but those two shots were the catalyst for the rest of our lives.

I shake my head to get rid of the thoughts – the sight of him lying on that floor; his life bleeding out of him. I was certain I was going to lose him. As if sensing where my mind is, he pulls me close to his side and kisses the top of my head, before taking my hand and leading me outside into the cold. He flags down one of the taxis lined up outside the train station.

The taxi weaves through the traffic of the city, and the driver gives us almost a running commentary of what we’re passing from the monument of the Great fire of London, to Nelson’s column. We pass the Battle of Britain monument, before I see Tower Bridge. It’s so beautiful.

“This is your hotel,” the driver tells us as he stops at a hotel right by the water. I squeal, barely able to contain the excitement. We check in and dump our bags in our room before we go exploring.

“So where to next?” Mason asks, hugging me from behind as we look out at the water from the middle of the bridge.

“How about the London Eye? You can show me the top of the world again,” I say, turning my head so I can kiss him.

“Oh darlin’, I’ll show you that anytime you want.”

 

***

 

“You’re looking better!” I tell Monica as I video call her, stood in the middle of Trafalgar square.

“Thank you,” she laughs. “I think! Now show me, show me!” I flip the camera on my phone for her and show her where I am. I spin, letting her take it all in. Mason waves when she can see him and she laughs at the stupid face he pulls. I finish my circle and switch the camera back. I see tears in her eyes, and evidence of the ones she’s already batted away.

“Thank you, Erin. It was almost as good as being there with you. I’ve always wanted to visit London.”

“Well then,” I say, “When I finish up my first year of UT, we’ll come here for a girls’ break. Just you and me. What do you say?”

“I’d love to, Erin,” she smiles.

“Then it’s settled! And I’ll be an old hand next time, I can be your tour guide.”

“It sounds perfect.”

“I’m already excited to see this place with you!”

“I’m excited just to see you again,”

“Not long, and I’ll be back home. We can do Taco’s and cupcakes, and binge watch Netflix.”

“I can’t imagine anything better,”

“Then it’s a date.”

“Perfect. I’ve got to go; your uncle Jamie is coming over for dinner.”

“Oh, yeah, I keep forgetting about the time difference! See you soon. Love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, Erin.”

I end the call and wrap my arms around Mason’s waist.

“I think I’m almost ready,”

“Ready for what?”

“To go home and start living the rest of our lives. To be your wife., to have your children, not yet, obviously, but one day. To just be.”

“Whatever you want, darlin’. If it’s in my power, it’s yours., Now as for those babies, I have a real good plan about getting started on that right now!” He jokes, waving down a cab and whisking me back to our hotel.

 

***

 

London has been amazing but I’m ready to go home. I never thought I’d feel homesick while I was out exploring the world, but it’s made me appreciate everything I have so much more.

“You all packed, darlin’?” Mason calls to me from the bedroom.

London was the perfect end to our trip, everything about this place just feels magical. I finish packing up my toiletries, stuffing them into my bag before joining him in the room. I watch him as he stands at the French doors, looking out over the river, watching the people pass by. He has no idea just how strong he is. He is my anchor, my center, my calm in the storm. The thought brings an idea.

“I am, but do you think we have time to stop quickly?”

“I’m sure we have. This is you; we’re going to be at the airport hours before we need to be,” he teases.

“Awesome. I need to find a tattooist.”

“My girl wants to get some ink?” He asks, surprised.

“I do,” I smile.

“You going to tell me what?”

“Nope,” I laugh. “You’ll see soon enough.”

“Well then, I guess we had better go,” he says, slipping on his jacket and picking up both of our bags.

 

Okay, so whoever said tattoos don’t hurt, lied. I mean, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t exactly clouds and puppies – but it was worth it. On the side of my left wrist in an anchor.

“An anchor?” he asks when I show him it to him on our cab ride to the airport.

“Yeah,” I smile.

“Why an anchor?”

“Because you are my anchor; you keep me steady and you keep me where I need to be. You are home – and this is my way to remember that no matter how terrible things get, no matter if you’re right next to me, or a million miles away, you’re with me. That you love me, despite anything and everything.”

“I love it, darlin’; it’s beautiful – just like you. Thank you.”

He kisses me and the world falls away. It’s me and him against the world. I snuggle into his chest and he wraps his arm around me as we journey.

 

“Calling all passengers for flight VIR779, London to Austin, Texas. Please go to gate 32. Your plane is beginning to board.”

I feel butterflies when I hear the callout over the speaker. It’s nearly time for home, and I cannot wait to see Monica, Jamie, and Grams and tell them all about our adventures – and the fact that Mason and I are now husband and wife. Show them the pictures we took of the memories we’ve made.

“Time to get going, Erin,” Mason says, gathering our bags. 

My phone goes in my pocket.“I’m ready,” I tell him with a smile.

“Wait, hold up.” I say, pulling out my phone. It’s Uncle Jamie. 

“Hey, Jamie, what’s up?” I ask, my chest fluttering. He’s never phoned me before and I don’t like that he is now.

“Erin, I am so sorry,” he says.

I can barely hear him.

“What is it?” I ask, feeling my stomach bottom out.

I’ve never heard him like this before.

“You need to come home, now.”