There’s no place like London / Part 2

Aaron:

Throughout our lives, Jed and I have read stories and watched films about love and adventures that take place in the great city of London. How inspiring it was to watch our very own story develop so unexpectedly right before our eyes.

After a night of staying in a...well let’s just say...“last minute low-cost accommodation,” we had each managed to find a new place to stay. Mutual friends of ours had rented an apartment in Kensington, London, and kindly let us stay with them. We spent that night in the living room area, on two single fold-away beds that were just about big enough to sleep on. Jed’s feet stuck out of the end of his bed.

Settling down for the night at either side of the room, we lay there and began to chat. We had a lot to discover in the short time we had side by side. We were quite exhausted but still managed to stay up that whole night talking about everything in our lives. We covered a lot of ground in that time and both feeling surprisingly comfortable enough sharing personal stories, while knowing each other for just a few days. We only noticed the time when we saw light starting to creep through the window from behind the curtains.

Jed

I usually get nine hours sleep a night and don’t function very well if I get less than that. I didn’t want to share that with Aaron quite yet, so suggested that we get a few hours sleep before our exciting day in London together. We both rolled over in our British-sized, flimsy beds and tried to sleep. As I rolled over, I put my arm straight through the bed slats and fell to the ground. Trying to contain our hysterical laughter as to not wake the others we both drifted off for a few hours.

Samuel Johnson said “when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”  After a day of exploring London together we had covered a distance of 12 miles, without realizing it.  We visited nearly every major London landmark. I was worried that Aaron was getting tired of being dragged all over London. I assumed if he was from England he was from London.

After a splendid walk along the South bank of the River Thames, we walked across the famous Tower bridge. Just then the bell rang, and the drawbridge parted. The two sides of the road separated and stayed apart temporarily but were then rejoined making the bridge as strong as it was before.

Our first Selfie, on the South Bank of the River Thames.

It had been our last full day together in London before we each returned to the land we called home. We decided to go on an official date that afternoon before we parted the next day. Being in Aaron’s land, it was agreed that Fish & Chips would need to be on the menu.

Jed’s first Fish & Chips experience.

Later that evening on our way back to the apartment, we walked hand in hand through Hyde Park. Our feelings were bittersweet as we were both falling in love and we knew our time together was coming to an end. In a few days we would be exactly 4,675 miles apart.

Knowing I had one more day in London until my flight back stateside, I was grateful to Aaron for staying longer then he planned, we were able to see so much more of London and it gave us more time to build our friendship. We both knew how the other felt and had shared so many great experiences over the last few days together. Living worlds apart, I just didn’t know what the future held for us.

Aaron

Walking the streets of London together the next day, knowing we were slowly running out of time, we found ourselves in Trafalgar square. All the street performers were lined up and the place was full of people. Music started to play, Somewhere over the rainbow.  With a tear in my eye, I had hope that our friendship would one day become something more and we would find a way to make a long-distance relationship work.

Trafalgar Square, London.

Jed

We had arrived at the train station already; the days had gone so fast. Our time together had been so happy, and we had bonded so well.

It was tough to watch Aaron go as he disappeared down that long platform. Wow! Did all that really just happen? I found it so much harder to say good bye than I thought I would. Then the feeling of uncertainty crept over me. When would I see him again? It was unsettling to me. Now what?

I was also worried about getting through the long journey back home, just hours away, and knowing I would need to find my way through London alone to get to the airport.

Waiting for Aaron’s platform to be called.

Aaron

As we stepped off the tube in to the middle of rush hour at London Euston, we stood in silence on the long escalator ride up to the main waiting area. I was catching a train back to Liverpool in less than an hour. We found a small perch where we stayed till it was time, not really knowing what to say to each other as we waited for my platform to be called.

London Euston, Train Station.

Jed walked with me as far as he could go. People crowded around us as we shared our last embrace. As the world fell silent around us, I felt like we were the only two people in the whole of London, I didn’t want that moment to end.

Slowly walking down the long platform to my assigned carriage I looked back time and time again wanting desperately to turn around and go back. The feeling was unbearable as I stepped on to that train, taking one last glance at Jed who stood ten carriages away at the ticket barrier. I did not know when I would see him again.

Jed

Having time to spare after leaving the Train Station, I decided to go back to St. Paul’s cathedral. We had shared a beautiful moment there and it felt familiar. Actually, we had sat enjoying the moment so long that the last tower tour had come and gone, so we missed the chance of seeing the cathedral dome together.

I walked up the many stairs to the very top dome and took a picture. I sent it straight to Aaron. Pictures and messages were shared for the rest of the day. This was the beginning of one long ongoing text conversation.

The top of the steps at the highest point of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Join us on our transatlantic adventure:

As we share our passion for travel and the deeper understanding it brings;

As we immerse ourselves in local cultures and gain a new perception of our surroundings;

As we experience the endeavour of a long-distance relationship and the highs and lows that occur;

As we navigate our way through the immigration systems trying to find a land to call our own.