Beautiful Lies - Shawn Mendes

3. Finally Here

After a bittersweet exchange of goodbyes, I was left with just me and my bags at the entrance. I hated airports, I always had. The stress and the pressure of people trying to get to their destination on time, was horrendous. However once you were sat on the aeroplane, looking out at the runway as the plane begins to incline, it makes it worth all the hassle.

One chaotic hour later, I was sat in the departure lounge. I sipped a latte that I'd bought in the hope that my weary eyes wouldn't droop. I was never very good with early mornings, and even though it was only ten, I could already feel the lack of sleep from last night, due to excitement, setting in.

My eyes scanned the departure board eagerly, knowing as soon as I settled in my plane seat, I could have a well-deserved nap. As if by blessing, the flight to Sicily appeared, and I gathered my stuff and joined the monstrous queue.

Once I'd shown my boarding pass, I entered the plane and found my seat. I'd booked a window seat specifically so I could admire how beautiful everything was from such a distance. 

Settling in my seat, and getting everything I needed for the flight out of my bag, I turned and looked out the window. The last time I had been to visit my family was four years ago. I particularly missed my grandmother, Rosa, who was so sweet but when she wanted to, could be feisty. I supposed that's where my mum gets it from.

I also missed my cousin Félicité, who was like a second sister to me. I couldn't wait to see them both again. And it wouldn't be long before I did.

I decided this summer, to have a total social media detox, I wanted to live life this summer, without it being through a phone screen. It wasn't like I could have used it much anyway, with Cefalú having virtually no internet or wifi wherever you went. I had never been big into social media anyway, I just followed a few accounts of relatives, friends and public figures, to see what they were getting up to.

My friends always used to tease me that I lived under a rock, (which was partially true), I would go out to an occasional party, but to get to Cambridge, which had been my dream since I began secondary school, needed hard work, sacrifice, determination and perseverance. I wasn't going to give up my future, for a few messy nights of instant, short-lived fun. Going out, drinking and getting off with boys, was never really my style anyway, I much preferred the comfort of staying at home in pyjamas, eating ice cream, and curling up with a good book.

Hearing the pilot overhead begin his speech, I put my headphones in and put on an acoustic playlist. My eyelids began to droop, and so I let them, the lulling sound of a faint guitar becoming more and more distant, until all was silent.

I woke up, with time still left before we reached our destination. I spent the last half an hour, beginning the book I'd saved especially for this trip.

When the plane touched down, excitement filled my veins. I was about to see my family who I hadn't seen in years, I was about to spend the best summer of my life in one of the most remote towns in Sicily, a summer full of sunshine and good food. I didn't realise just how much I missed home Italian cooking.

Slinging my hand luggage onto my shoulder, I headed towards the exit. As I stepped over the threshold, a blast of hot air hit my face. It was then that I knew, I was finally here.