Number 19 (part 2)

The next minute I knew, we were in The Builder's Arms, knocking back tequila shots. This was a random evening on my home turf and I couldn’t help but think that this kinda stuff doesn’t happen unless I’m on holiday, when the risks I take are a million miles away from my own reality. 

But then I asked him a question. I can’t remember what it was, just the answer. He had a girlfriend. I didn’t react. Instead, I worked hard to keep my cool. How could this man of perfect everything be such a slime? So I continued to dig for more and he started to complain that none of his friends liked her. But all I could do was wonder how did I get from romantic bliss to agony aunt? Because you can bet I had already written him off upon the mention of the dreaded g-word. My illusions were shattered and I was quickly out of there.



This tall suited stranger asked if he could walk me home. I declined. But I had to ask him his name. Gilbert, he replied: just like my childhood romantic hero from Anne of Green Gables.

Our next move was to give each other a hug on Sydney Street. Gilbert told me I was awesome. I smiled as we set off in opposite directions. But before he was completely gone, I turned around and shouted his name, Gilbert! I wanted to imagine that Anne of Green Gables had finally arrived in Chelsea. He turned around. He smiled and then we continued on our separate ways. 

This was my favourite part of the evening. As we continued to step back into our own lives, my romantic delusion remained in tact. To an extent we were still both strangers and it was up to our imaginations to do the rest of the work and carry the story on.