It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. The sun shone bright and the sky was clear blue. But my mood could not have been more different. That day marked the end of my relationship. It was ironic that we came full circle. Our relationship ended exactly 3 months from the day we met. We both wanted very different things. He wanted to explore other possibilities and gain life experience; I wanted a relationship, a future. So it wasn’t meant to be. We were in very different places in our lives despite only being a year apart in age. Despite all the ups and downs I still love him and care for him very deeply, but it was best to go our separate ways and maybe someday our paths may cross but until then I need to look into my future and move forward with my life.
After we ended things, I got the train back from his home
town and bought myself a hot chocolate and sat down at the train station. I
love the train station. It was a big one with trains departing and arriving
from different cities and towns all over the country. I liked to watch people as
they dashed to catch the train as it is was just about to leave, affectionate
greetings with loved ones, sad goodbyes, confused tourists and as it was a
Saturday evening, lots of people dressed for a night. I love to people watch.
It’s nice to see a snapshot into someone else’s life and watch the world go by.
I sat down on the very same seat where I waited for him on our first date,
eagerly waiting, nervous and excited just a mere 3 months ago. I looked behind
me with a sad smile remembering how amazing that date was strolling hand in
hand by the river getting to know each other with the city lit up around us at
dusk. It was perfect. In contrast, I was sad, exhausted, tired and was just
about to get ready to head back to my house.
Then I turned around, looked ahead and spotted none other
than Arsene Wenger, manager of the arsenal football team casually being
directed out of the station. I thought he looked familiar but it took me a few
seconds to realise that it really was him. Then I jumped up and ran towards him.
I couldn’t believe my eyes; the entire Arsenal football team were walking
through the station, dressed in kit, towards an awaiting team bus. I couldn’t
believe my eyes. Not being an arsenal fan, I didn’t recognise many of the
players but then at the end of the line there was none other than England
footballer Theo Walcott, himself. My jaw dropped! I was so shocked. I have
never met anyone famous in my life, and here I was within touching distance of
a world renowned and respected international footballer. My knees were shaking
and I was so stunned! I ran to him and because I didn’t have any paper asked
him to sign my arm and then cheekily asked him for a kiss. I don’t know what
possessed me to ask this haha. He gave me his cheek and I got to give Theo
Walcott himself a kiss on the cheek. And then just as he was about to get onto
the bus, I managed to get a photograph with him. I couldn’t believe my luck. I
got to kiss a footballer, got an autograph and got a photo with him too! I was
so elated. I hadn’t been that happy in a long time! I just couldn’t believe it!
I had just seen Theo Walcott!!!! I called home straight away to tell them the
news! They were shocked and there were some fans nearby who were jealous and
were saying how lucky I was!
Just a couple of hours ago, I was sad and deflated and
felt so upset that my relationship was over. And in a second, my mood had
changed. I had just met and kissed and gotten a photograph with an England
footballer. It was a sign. I know I am superstitious and may just be reading
too much into things but it must be a sign. I remember the 2006 World Cup when
Theo Walcott was the hope for the England team. He was a young 17 year old
forward who had just made his international debut for England. The whole
country was watching him and he was the hope. And on a day where I felt like
all hope was lost, where I felt that my world was crumbling around me, when I
lost a person who had become so very special to me, here was a sign, in my eyes
a symbol of hope. I had just met a man whose life was so very different to mine
and he was experiencing things which the everyday man could not ever dream
about. If you go to any country in the world, maybe where they don’t speak English
but where they are passionate about international football and say Theo
Walcott, people would know who he was. People would know that name. I can only
dream about what that would be like.
Because I believe in God, I think it’s a sign. I think
seeing him that day was a symbol of hope, a sign that maybe things may be okay.
Maybe the end of my relationship is not the end of the world. Maybe things
happen the way they do for a reason.
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