Cardiff is a small city, but Ollie evaded me.
He texted when I got my visa, wishing me luck.
‘Who is next?’ The fortune-telling woman asks.
‘Go on,’ Sam nudges me.
With a sigh, I head to the psychic, finishing my frappé as I walk.
‘Hello,’ I say, sitting opposite the woman. She’s wearing a citrine necklace. ‘I’m Will.’
‘Hello, Will,’ she says, looking at my finished drink. ‘Hmm.’
My heart thuds.
This is it.
She is going to tell me about my death.
‘Here at the bottom of the cup, there is someone,’ she says, ever so slowly. ‘He lives here. This man… He makes you happy.’
Wow. This womanwasgood.
‘Stay with this man,’ she says. ‘You will do great things together.’
It may have been bull. It may have been a shot in the dark that landed. Whatever it is, I accept it.
‘And the darkness,’ she says. ‘It consumes you less and less each day.’
My eyes sting, my throat constricting. I’m thankful that the candlelight hides my emotions. Upstairs, in my bag from the airport, lay my first prescribed antidepressants. I’ve been getting long-overdue support.
‘You are new here,’ she says, a statement rather than a question. ‘It will take time, but you will find your people. Your chosen family.’
This time, tears fall from my eyes. My mum was sad to see me go, but she let me. Now, I’m not so tragic in the eyes of my family. She told the world about her son getting his own TV show, moving abroad, and how wonderful all that was.
It was the first time I felt as important as everyone else.
But despite it all, I know moving here is what I was meant to do.
My family have their own lives. I’ve always felt a little out of it.
Now, I can start something new here, with people who understand me.
I’ll miss Alice, but she will visit. I’ll go back for her wedding when the time comes.
I have Lydia helping me adjust to Greek customs, teaching me the language, along with Sam. I prefer Sam’s gentle approach. A gentle teacher, and anything but when it comes to the bedroom.
Jill, welcoming me like I was her own.
Sam, loving me for who I am.
There has been no apprehension moving here. Just excitement. Delight at what lies ahead.
I thank the psychic, wiping away my tears.
‘You did the right thing.’
‘Efcharistó,’ I say, hoping I’ve thanked her properly. Two months gave me a small amount of time to learn at least some Greek.
