Finally, I could feel it, I could sense it, freedom.
I took a final glance at Ann, my best friend and Owen, my colleague from the Design shop, the one who Tyler accused me of cheating with waving at me from the airport terminal as I ascended the stairs to board my flight..
Ann whispered something, I kinda read as;
“Take care of yourself!!” From afar, I read her lips and I'm sure it was definitely what she said. I smiled, nodded and waved back then turned my gaze towards the plane's entryway.
I was finally leaving.
Leaving behind the harsh memories, the pain, heartbreaks, crying to bed almost every night, wishing one day my dad would come looking for me, most importantly, away from Tyler.
The past three days had helped a lot, giving me strength and solace, especially with Ann by my side, helping me recover from both my physical and emotional wounds.
I took my seat by the window, breathed a sigh of relief, and secured my seatbelt.
The plane’s engine was a steady hum in my ears, kinda rhythm for my thoughts to follow.
I watched the world grow smaller as the plane made its way to the runway, my past shrinking and my new life growing in its place.. as it should be I guess.
I looked through the window, with the hope that I'd see Ann again but she was nowhere to be seen, it was all just runways and taxiways stretching across the runway, with lights guiding the plane's path.
The sweet, calm voice of a flight attendant interrupted my thoughts.
"Good afternoon passengers, and welcome aboard flight LAX to LHR. Please make sure to fasten your seat belts securely, as we prepare for takeoff. Once we are airborne, you are free to relax and enjoy the flight."
The cabin filled with the sound of seat belts clicking into place as myself and the rest of the passengers prepared for the journey.
With a gentle nudge, the plane started to move towards the runway.
My heart raced as the plane picked up speed, the ground beneath us blurring as the plane finally took off, lifting into the sky.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated, a notification alerting me that I had received a message.
I unlocked my phone to discover that it had connected to the plane’s Wi-Fi, and the message was from RINDERS GROUP, reminding me of my interview that was to take place the next day.
A wave of happiness flew through me. Not in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be on a flight to London to resume my dream job so soon!
It was just two months ago while on a visit to Ann's, she told me there was a vacancy at RINDERS and urged me to apply.
After getting too many rejections from them, I had given up and even stopped checking their updates.. I was reluctant, but the constant encouragement from my friend had given me the courage to apply for this job, and now here I was, on my way to London to pursue my dream of becoming a graphics designer.
As I smiled to myself, a sense of excitement and pride rushed through me.
If any of the passengers around me were watching, they might have thought I was strange or mad, smiling so broadly, but I couldn't contain my happiness.
Yet, a bit of sadness lingered in me, reminding me that my parents, especially my dad, weren’t here to witness my success.
He'd always told me I'd be big in the design world.. Despite failing so many times, he still believed in me.
It felt like I had known deep down that my marriage with Tyler wasn't going to last. Maybe that was why I had applied for a job in London, even when I was still married. It was a bit funny, but also a bit… sad.
Hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, the flight attendant’s voice came once again over the intercom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are beginning our landing in London. Please ensure that your seatbelts are securely fastened and that your tray tables and seat backs are in the upright position. Please turn off all electronic devices until we have reached the gate. Thank you.”
The plane began its descent, and the cabin fell silent we prepared for landing.
It smelt like peace, like a new life, a new beginning, London!
The plane touched down smoothly, and as it taxied to the gate, I could see people gathering to welcome their loved ones home.
And then, there was me, no one was waiting for me - I was all alone.
Picking up my suitcase, I headed towards the exit, trying not to dwell on my loneliness.
London was a fresh start for me, and I needed to focus on the opportunities ahead.. no bad energies brought here, I left them in New York.
As I stepped outside, I pulled out my phone to call a cab and check the address of the apartment thd company had arranged for me.
In a few minutes, the cab arrived.. I didn't expect it to be that fast. Life here in London seems to be easier huh?
The hustle and bustle of the airport still hummed in the background as I climbed into the cab, giving the address of my new home to the driver.
"Where are you from?" he asked as the car pulled away.
"I'm from New York," I answered with a small smile.
"Ah, the Big Apple," he replied, chuckling. "Well, welcome to London. The Big Smoke, as we call it."
"Thank you," I said.
The cab driver turned the key, and the engine jerked to life and as we got into the traffic, I turned to look out the window, taking in the unfamiliar city.
Maybe, just maybe, London would be the fresh start I needed.