amsterdam ( central cee )

22

AN: TW blasphemy???

Happy was an understatement of what I was feeling right now. I lift my tote bag over my shoulder and hear the glass wine bottles clash against each other. My heart is thumping, bouncing against the walls of my ribcage with excitement.

As I wait for my Uber, I text Oakley's mom.

Guess who got accepted into the University of Amsterdam?

I watch the bubbles in the textbox appear and disappear for a good thirty seconds. I smile, knowing she had to grab her glasses to type.

Oak's mom: Hanne!!
Really?!?!
I am so happy for you.

Ikr! I can't even believe it!

She starts typing but I flip through my contacts for Oakley's.

My Uber stops in front of me, he rolls his window down. "Hannah?"

I smile and nod. He steps out of the vehicle and pops open the trunk for me.

"Should I take them for you?" He smiles sweetly while taking my suitcase.

I settle on the back seat and stare at the text message I'm hesitating to send. Oakley and I FaceTime for 24 hours if that was possible, so saying nothing all day would make me more suspicious but I don't want to give away that I've already landed in London.

How was ur flight? miss u over here.

I send it and it takes just a few seconds for the three dots to appear.

Oakland❤️: wagwan love
just woke up...
It's nice to be home again. what were u doing?

Taking Pongo for a ride, bout to bike back home. Can we call in like fifteen minutes?

I check the navigation as the Uber fires up the engine, I'd be at Oakley's house within fifteen minutes. This is going all according to plan.

Oakland❤️: we can call now.

won't do champ, there's too much wind u won't hear me.

Oakland❤️:

😒
Didn't Marius give u his old car? what u still goin round riding the bike for?????

I smile at my screen and type my response but the next one chimes in.

Oakland❤️: pops said he's free end of the week, want me to buy u a ticket? he's excited to meet u

Blood flows toward my face and the car is suddenly much hotter than it was before. I didn't prepare any outfits to meet Oakley's dad, since they're all for... celebrating. He has told me about his father before and it would be a shame to set a bad first impression on his religious, very intimidating dad.

I got my acceptance letter in my email and texted my grandparents first, ran downstairs to tell my parents after that went back upstairs to call Lexi and book the first flight to London to surprise Oakley now that he's finally home. Meeting Oakley's dad doesn't fit on the list of things to do at this moment.

I lean my head against the window and proudly smile to myself like a creep. I've never believed in God before --definitely not after Valentine died- but somehow I feel like I should get on my knees and thank him for what he gifted me. I understand his love somehow. My father had explained it to me once.

'God never gives you a burden you can't carry.'

Throughout my life, I had often heard people talk about counting their blessings, but those words never truly carried much weight for me. That was until the defining moment this morning when I found myself standing in front of my bathroom mirror, reflecting upon the horrifying days of my past. It was at that very moment that I realized the impact those experiences had on shaping my present and future. The scars of my past had not hindered me but rather served as a motivation for personal growth and resilience.