Against All Odds

[2] two

It had never occurred to me how something so little could drastically change your life.

Maybe it was the small chocolate cookie you ate yesterday that made you gain those extra two pounds.

Maybe it was that tiny stone that hit the window, that caused the whole thing to shatter.

Maybe it was waiting too long to get a coffee that caused a selfless woman to lose her life.

You may think I'm blowing things way out of proportion, and wasting my time pondering over a stupid decision I made that unknowingly changed the rest of my life, but this thought is what keeps me up at night. This thought haunts me every day of my life. Even though I may have accepted that what happened is ineradicable, I can't help but wish every night that I will wake up to find that I was just dreaming.

Next stop is calling at Nottingham, please remember to collect all of your personal belongings before leaving this train.

The sound of the tannoy pulls me out of my daze and makes me reregister my surroundings: finally I have arrived. This is my new beginning - free of all the scars in my past.

I straighten out my t-shirt before standing and making my way to the doors, awaiting their opening. As soon as my feet leave this train, I am a new person. A new person, in a new city, ready to make new memories.

"Excuse me," I feel a hand tap on my shoulder. I half expect it to be someone I know, but instead a woman, with kind eyes and a wide smile stands behind me. "You left this," she hands me the small charm bracelet, that had once belonged to my mother, and continues, "it fell from your pocket," before disappearing again among the crowd.

I tuck the bracelet inside the zip of my bag, making sure it's safe and doesn't slip out again, before stepping off the train, with my small suitcase of belongings dragging behind me.

The wind immediately hits my face and my long, dark hair flies along with it. I tug my coat tighter around me and pull out my map of the city - yes a literal map.

"Ah, I have to tell you - I'm glad I'm not the only youthful Luddite around." A deep voice calls from behind me.

With no idea what he said, or what he meant, I give a nervous laugh and attempt to walk away - a terribly bad habit that has landed me in countless awkward interactions throughout my lifetime.

"Definition of a Luddite:" the voice continues from behind, catching my attention and causing me to turn to face them, "a person who is opposed to the introduction of new technology."

I turn around and immediately lock eye contact with a male, not much taller than myself. He has combed blonde hair and deep blue eyes, that have a strong resemblance of the ocean.

"I don't oppose technology," I look at him questioningly, "what makes you think that?"

He gestures towards the map held firmly in my hands, "I think you're the first person I've ever seen use a map around here." He laughs gently to lighten the mood, "-you know, with kids these days using Google Maps or whatever they call it."

He says kids as if he isn't practically a kid himself, I mentally say and roll my eyes.

"I'm eighteen, actually." He smirks, seemingly reading my mind, before holding his hand out for me to shake. "I'm Matthew, but you can call me Matt."