May 14. at least once a year, I make it my mission to go to London, like a promise to myself that I’ll always keep. The flight will be delayed, and the coaches won’t be running, and I’ll dangerously catch a ride with strangers until I get to Hammersmith, where my friend’s housemate lets me in at 3AM.
May 15. I wake up early and get coffee in one place, breakfast at another. I walk across a cemetery to get to the tube station, where I get on like I never left the city in the first place. Nostalgia sets in, mixed with new excitement, although my connection to this place has never altered when I was gone, and feels the most familiar when I am in it.
Outside of Tate Modern. I meet Kathryn outside the entrance of Tate Modern, sitting on a bench in a white maxi dress and an oversized denim jacket, beaming, and so beautiful in the sunlight. We go ahead and look at art, between chats and comments, pointing out the pieces or descriptions we particularly enjoy.
Evening. I meet a friend from home who’s studying in London for dinner. He takes me around Westfield, an area I hadn’t discovered before. I go the longer way around the cemetery on my way home.
May 16. I meet Clementine, radiant and bubbly and excited, in Marylebone where a few minutes ago I was sitting in a café across from another café where someone stared at me, and where I was staring back. I get myself a new perfume, then we eat one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had in Hoxton, sit in a churchyard and talk. Catching up, I realise again how strong our friendship has become, and I have fond memories of how we became friends in the first place – sharing poetry online. We go vintage shopping in Brick Lane, until I leave for Dalston.
Dalston. Isabel and Lien have checked into their Airbnb. I hear their voices in the hallway and hurry up the stairs with my luggage in my hand. I fall into Isabel’s arms, who is squealing but I am squealing louder, and I hug Lien at the door, and we all hug each other in the living room. We haven’t seen each other in five years, after we first met in London when we were all living there, then parted ways. Since then I had written and published books, Lien had become a dedicated ceramist teaching others, and Isabel had worked on her own brand, and others’, as well as her and Lien’s own business, BIENNE. We catch up on the sofa, next to a box of tissues, and laugh about parallels in our lives.
May 17. We walk through London fields and meet dogs, stride along and end up having a stunning breakfast at Ozone Coffee, where we catch up some more. It feels different hanging out with fellow creative friends. I always leave conversations more inspired and motivated. We go shopping for almost the entire day. I get new trainers because my feet are dying. I spend a bit too much money along the way which I don’t think about. We end the day at a pub.
May 18. I don’t think too much about my trip ending already when we sit down for breakfast across the street. We shop some more, and check out some bookstore cafés, have delicious Pad Thai and sit on the bus, staring outside because silently, and evidently, we have all missed the city, and Isabel shows us where she’s lived before.
Afternoon. We head back so I can grab my bags, on my way to the coach towards the airport. Isabel and Lien continue their adventure – it’s only been the beginning for their trip. And I sit on the plane two hours later, knowing I’ll be back, and knowing I’ll make more memories from afar, and I’ll never feel different, whatever happens, at whatever stage in my life, when I come back.
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