Sliding Doors - 2 (English Version)

Bonus chapter - 109

Hero

The time on set seems to have flown by and we are already in the final stages of this fantastic adventure!

We have finished filming and are saying goodbye to all the crew for the last time. Yes because the films are really over. There won't be another After.
Or will there, who knows?

Now we have to pack our bags and go back to our usual life.
This time, however, I will return home with her, or rather to her home in LA.
Yes, because we have been months apart and the pandemic shows no sign of stopping.
I absolutely do not want to risk being stuck in London for who knows how long, without being able to see her, again.
We are used to being away from each other for some time but it is starting to get tight.
We used to go even months without seeing each other but now something has changed.
Being in close contact, day and night, has given me a taste of what it might be like to live with her.
Don't get me wrong, with the work we do, being away from each other sometimes helps because it makes you get used to long periods of absence, so in our case, it's not a bad thing per se.
If I had to imagine being engaged to a girl who is always impatiently waiting for me at home, because she has a very normal job that doesn't take her constantly travelling the world, I would feel tremendous guilt towards her.
So instead it's much easier: we understand each other, we don't put limits on ourselves and we are each other's support.
We are a team! And Jo is first and foremost my best friend.
The love I feel for her is something that came suddenly and that I can't pretend not to see.

I watch her as she closes her suitcase and lets out a sigh.
When she turns to me, her eyes are glazed over and she tries hard not to let any tears fall. She looks up and smiles, biting her lip.
She is more and more beautiful. I don't know how this is possible, but it is!

"Come here!" I open my arms towards her and sit on the bed.

She nods without a word and joins me.
We embrace in silence, nothing more is needed.

"I'm happy, you know?" She whispers against my chest and a giggle escapes me.

"It doesn't look like much, actually!" I tease her and hear her giggle.

She rolls her glossy eyes at me as she bites her lip and a smile arises on her face.

"I don't like goodbyes, but I'm happy to go home with you!"
I hug her tighter, continuing to look at her.

"And we'll find a way to spend as much time as possible from now on, I promise!" I whisper, moving a wisp of hair away from her face.

She nods and snuggles into me.
I love this sense of belonging we have when we're together.
As much as I love my home, London and all the affections I have there, she is my true home.
I only feel complete when I am with her.

"Your mum won't be happy about this..." She says softly, almost to herself "She will hate me for taking her son away from her just before the Christmas holidays!"

"My mum adores you and you know it!" I tickle her and her laughter rumbles inside my chest.
"And I already told her about it anyway and she said she's proud of me!"

"Really?" Her eyes peer into mine attentive and amazed.

I nod and kiss her on the forehead.
"She said I'm head over heels in love with you and I have to do everything I feel to make you feel good!"

I love Martha. She's an amazing woman and now I have proof of that.

"She also said, though, that if I don't bring you home to her for dinner sometime, she'll never forgive me!" I smile and she giggles again.