Summer Love Stores: Love in New York

I landed in New York City for the first time on a hot summers day. It was a change to the grey gloomy weather I'd just left behind in Britain. I peeled off my cardigan and took in the wide roads that spread across between Newark and the bus shuttles.

The shuttle ferried us into New York, goose bumps ruptured on my body as I took in the view of this beautiful city. My mind mesmerized by how you can see something on TV and then see it in real life. It was forty five minutes later, I was dropped off in uptown Manhattan. The hostel I'd booked looked welcoming as my feet creaked into the reception.

A tall man stood ahead of me waiting to be checked in. He wore blue jeans, a navy blue t-shirt and a white hat. It was hard not to notice him because I hadn't come across many men who were taller than me. After being checked in and after a shower I came back downstairs and introduced myself to the other house guests. The tall guy was on the computer, I noticed the jeans. His curly brown hair matched the dark brown of his eyes. He smiled with warmth as he proffered his hand to meet mine.

"I'm Lindy, nice to meet you."
"Edward."

Our exchange was brief, but the feelings I felt were immediate and intense. I couldn't help but catch him staring at me as I sat down to watch TV. The next three days we hardly saw each other. I was out by nine and back after midnight, touring the Big Apple, but on the third day I came back to the hostel because my feet would not carry me any longer. Edward sat on the couch having his evening meal. I perched myself on the computer to check and send emails and as I was about to get up and retire to my room Edward came up to me.

"Would you like something to eat?"
Being British it was only polite that I accept. He dished me some of his half cooked pasta and we sat in comfortable silence. Then he made me a cup of tea and after all his catering efforts we began to talk.

Edward was my soul mate, we clicked. Our views on life were so similar I wondered why I hadn't met someone like him in England. We spent our last days together walking in Central Park. He would sit and draw me while I lay on the couch, his hand brushing up against my cheek. It felt like only something you read in books.