“Promise.” Faith shook her head.
“I swear it,” Rose nodded as she pulled out the nail polish remover.
“Well, it looks like happiness in London is waiting.” I wrapped my arms around each of my friends.
I was taking a vacation, but part of this vacation was about rediscovering who I was and what I wanted. About accepting who I was, and that I was enough. It would take time, but I knew where I wanted to start. I walked over to my closet and opened the drawer that held all my undershirts. They were in terrible shape. Sweat stained and filled with holes. I had worn one of these every day since I was fifteen.
“Be right back,” I said.
I made my way to the box of garbage bags under the sink, pulled out a white bag with a red drawstring, and walked back to my room. I looked at the drawer. It was time to let go, to love all of me and stop hiding my scars. I picked up a handful of shirts and tossed them into the trash bag. “It’s time to let these go. No more covering up.”
Faith gasped from the bed and ran over and pulled me into a hug. “This is huge, Marissa! I'm so proud of you.”
I smiled. I was proud of myself too.
“Can I buy you a bikini for London now?” Rose smirked.
“Um, I think it’s too cold for that.” I did not want to even imagine what tiny fabric swimwear Rose had in mind. I wasn’t ready for that, but maybe by summer a tasteful two-piece or a crop top would be in my future. One step at a time. I finished bagging the undershirts, and then the three of us went to the dumpster to throw them in.
Chapter Thirty-Three
MARISSA
I was in London!I would've asked someone to pinch me to see if I was dreaming, but my aching back and stiff legs told me it was real.
What was it about sitting all day that was tiring? After getting through customs, I found an Uber driver to take me to my hotel in Central London. Even though it was well past midnight, London was still wide awake. Stores were open and not just bars. People walked down the streets in suit coats and dressy clothes. Scott would fit right in. I pictured him when he first came to Hillsdale with his starched shirts and bruised eye. The only thing I regretted about Scott was the way things ended. I didn’t regret loving him, or how he helped me learn to love myself, and hope for a future I loved.
I looked toward the crowd and saw street performers and billboards for theaters.
“First time in London?” The Uber driver had an aged face but kind eyes as he looked at me through his rearview mirror.
“Yep! I’ve always wanted to come.”
He smiled showing a wide smile with a chipped front tooth. “Why’s that?”
I placed my hand on the purple envelope in my lap. I had read through the contents several times, but somehow it was still comforting to hold.
“My parents were going to go with me after I graduated high school, but then they passed away. It seemed important to go anyway.” I shrugged. That I was talking to a stranger about my parents was a testament to how far I had come.
“Oye, sorry miss. I hope London is all you hoped.”
“Any recommendations for me?”
He nodded. “A lifetime worth. The theater up on West End. The plays and the buildings are both a must see. Little Venice in West London has these house boats and river cafes. You have to try Marty’s Fish and Chips.” He looked at me through the mirror. “Oh, and there is the flower market in East End on Sundays, and theBermondsey beer mile.” He chuckled. “You might have to stay awhile or visit again.”
“Sounds like I might.”
I thanked him for all the tips and checked into my hotel room. I plopped down on the white poofy bed. My room was gorgeous, decorated with warm earth tones, gold accents, and oil paintings everywhere. The whole hotel screamed luxury.
This trip had to have cost a fortune.
I plugged in my phone with the plug adapters and checked my email and saw three emails from Happiness in London.
The first was a reminder of the time I would need to meet the group in the lobby for tomorrow’s tour. We would see Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, get to ride the London Eye, and see Big Ben.
This was for sure the way to travel. I smiled as I opened the next email. They sent it at one a.m. London time, which was ten minutes after I landed.
Marissa,
