Originally written on 19 November, 2004
She asked me to go to London with her. As friends. We were both going anyway, sometime in November. Why not travel together? She knew I was attracted to her, but she invited me anyway. I agreed, in the moment.
I discussed the situation with my close friends. “Dumb idea,” they said. “How could you agree?” I didn’t have an answer. It felt like the thing to do at the time, even though as the date of the trip approached I began dreading it more and more.
We spent the next two months talking regularly, getting together a few times. Finding hotels, setting up a vague itinerary. Deciding on activities. Booking hotels.
We met this morning at Gatwick airport, found our hotel, went wandering about near Regents Park. Took a dinner river cruise on the Thames in our smart clothing. Ate, drank, and took pictures. The boat spun in circles under the London Bridge while “Hallelujah” played over the speakers.
I realized I this would not be an easy trip for me, and that I should have never come.