Our Love Story: Leaving on a Jet Plane

I booked my ticket home to San Francisco and told my family that I was leaving. This was very hard for everyone. I had leaned on them for 5 months because of two knee surgeries. Honey and I both decided that he would pick me up from the airport.

Before I left L.A. I started to realize that we were in a relationship, and not just a friendship. Because of my injury and surgeries, I had to go to Physical Therapy about 4 times a week and then continue to do the exercises at home. I got to know my physical therapist and the other patients as we all supported one another. There was a man that was there around 37, a retired Marine - who was in rehab from a shoulder surgery. We chatted each time we were at an appointment together. One day he asked me out to coffee after our appointment and offered to drive me home.

I said yes to coffee which was across the street and felt guilty the entire time I was with him. The truth of the matter is, I talked about my future honey to the ex Marine the entire time we were having coffee and about my decision to move back to San Francisco. I had a huge crush on honey and was just starting to realize how big. The ex-Marine asked me out again or if he could come and visit me in San Francisco. I told him "thank you, but no because I was involved with my future honey". He told me that future honey was a lucky man. Retired marine man drove me home and that was the last time that we saw each other.

The time finally came for my father to drive me to the airport. As I was thinking if I should kiss my future honey at the airport when I saw him or not, my father said to me.

"Laura I have something that I need to say to you. I don't know if you will decide to be with future honey, but if it's not him then you deserve someone exactly like him." I had just been given my father's approval.

Physically, I was very scared to travel by myself. I was weak and could only take a couple of steps on my own without crutches. I was also humbled by being pushed in a wheelchair at the airport though security and to the gate. Sure, I got to go on the plane first, but I felt all eyes on me and it took me forever to walk up the stairs to the plane at the Burbank airport.

I kept thinking to myself that my future honey would be at the San Francisco airport waiting for me. It would be OK.

I can do this!

Then my mind started to wander to what it would be like to see him there. We had been through so much together over the last year. He had given me so much support. Saw me through the ups and downs. He had won the support of my family and my best friend. I knew how I felt about him and I wanted him to know how I felt. But I had never fallen in love with a friend before. I felt shy throughout the plane ride. Maybe he had changed his mind and didn't love me anymore as it had taken me so long to realize how I felt. Should I kiss him or not kiss him when I saw him at the gate?

I told everyone who would listen to me on the plane that I was going home after 5 months of being away to tell my best guy friend that I was in love with him. (I am sure it was like Rachel on Friends when she was on the plane flying to London to stop Ross’ wedding)

Finally the plane landed. I could see the stewardess get the wheelchair ready for me. This was it. The moment that I had been waiting for had arrived.

I was wheeled off the plane. I was so excited to see him and my heart was beating so fast. Then I saw him standing at the bottom of the escalator. He had brought me a surprise. My girlfriend “Elizabeth” was with him. How could I kiss him now?

Stay tuned for the next Chapter….. Interracial dating, love and our relationship: Chapter 4 Going Home to San Francisco