One Shot Wednesdays -Tower & Trauma (Patreon)

Hello and welcome to this week's One Shot Wednesday!

Today was inspired by my desire to be back in England and to have a cute love interest. This scenario was done with speed writing and the guy "Alex" is based on a real person I met once in London, though I've changed the name for this one shot.  

Enjoy!

I waited nervously outside of Tower’s gates staring across The Thames towards Tower Bridge. I began to fidget until at last I was informed of Alex’s arrival by two hands suddenly going over my eyes.

I let out a scream and tensed up, my hands coming to try and grab those that had blinded me.

Alex laughed and apologized, “I’m so sorry luv I didn’t mean to scare you that bad!”

We were turned to face each other now and my breathing hitched a few times as I felt my heart pounding uncomfortably underneath my ribs and echoing in my ears. “I... Oh I’m glad it’s you,” I managed to say trying to smile but I saw Alex’s smile drop immediately.

“I really scared you didn’t I? I’m so, so sorry!”

“It’s fine!” I tried to assuage.

“No, I can see that it’s not. I’m so sorry I didn’t mean for you to get so terrified. I won’t do that again,” he vowed with a full look of concern.

“Th-thanks,” I decided, knowing I did appreciate the gesture.

“What happened? It wasn’t just my hands you look white like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I took a few breaths and looked away nervously towards the top of The Tower for a moment before I tried to meet his eyes and be honest with him, “Um it really bothers me when people come up behind me and I don’t know that they’re there. I think it’s because uh when I was in grade seven a boy in my class hit me over the back of the head with a binder from behind and my body has never gotten over the shock of being taken by surprise and injured like that.”

Alex immediately took my hands into his which was an unspoken comfort to me. “I am so sorry luv I didn’t know,” he expressed in a whisper filled with regret.

“I know you didn’t!” I assured, “I never told you.”

“But now I know and I promise I won’t surprise you like that again. I swear it,” he told me solemnly, his accent making me think of some olden-days knight and the thought of that made me smile and relax a bit in addition to his kind promise.

“Hey it’s okay but... Thank you I appreciate that,” I nodded gently.

“I thought only American schools had violence,” he tried to joke and then apologized even though I laughed softly.

“Canadian schools have their share of stuff,” I told him. “In this case it was because this boy had anger management and someone told him a nasty rumor that I was talking bad about his mom. I’d never even met his mom; I think they did it to see what he’d do. I was...bullied a lot in that grade,” I confessed softly.

This did nothing to assuage the look of concern off of my dear Alex’s face. “Britt I’m so sorry. God I... How terrible!”

“I know but it’s over now. And I didn’t—we didn’t come here to go over childhood trauma,” I mused lightly. “Um so shall we carry on? A lot worse has happened within the walls of The Tower anyway,” I tried to muse and he gave me a small smile, at least.

“True, I suppose. But may I hug you all the same? In apology for scaring you?”

I was taken slightly aback but was moved by his offer. “Sure, thanks,” I blushed.

Alex held me good and tight and I suddenly felt calmed and nervous all at once. It was like something inside me was clicked back together, metaphorically. The man gave good hugs; just the kind that I always felt like I was longing for. And now, I’d found it here in him.

Did it mean something?

My truly hopeless romantic heart went wild and told me it did but I suppressed the feeling and just hugged my love interest back.

Alex pulled away from me after a short while and smiled. “Okay, let’s put it all behind us and pretend we’ve just met up. Hey Britt how’re you doing?”

“I’m great; I’m excited for our day ahead!”

“Good. So am I! Let’s go then,” he exclaimed, linking our arms and making my smile spread into a grin.

Something told me it was gonna be hard not to love this man...