London Looks Better on Me — A Note From Sophie

food for the flight and he hesitated text me when you land i took the bag and nodded then i turned towards security sarah luke called after me i stopped but didn't turn around if things don't work out over there you can always come back i said nothing i dragged my suitcase into the security line the line was long i looked back once from a distance i saw sophie talking

to Luke, gesturing with both hands. Luke was looking down at his phone, typing something. Neither of them looked particularly sad. They looked as relaxed as if they had just watched someone run out for groceries and expected her back any minute. I turned around. Gate B-12. I found a seat and opened the bag Luke had given me. A sandwich, a bottle of water,

mints, a bag of chips, and beneath everything else, a sticky note. Sophie's round handwriting covered it. Fatty, the outside world is scary. You definitely won't last long before you miss When that happens, Luke and I will come bring you home. It's not like you can control your appetite anyway.

I stared at the word fatty for a long time as the plane taxied down the runway. I tore the note in half and stuffed it back into the bag. Twelve hours later, I landed in London and turned on my phone. Thirty-seven messages.

Most were memes and voice messages from Sophie. Luke had sent only one. Tell me when you land, I replied with two words. I'm here.

Then I closed the conversation.