Chapter Two
I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the rucksack by my feet. It’s smaller than I expected given that I’ve packed all of my essentials for life into it.
The thought feels strangely liberating.
“Are you sure you’ve got everything?” my mother asks as she appears in the doorway.
Her arms are crossed tightly over her chest, and her brows are pulled into a worried frown. She’s been hovering like this all week, ever since I moved my belongings back into my childhood home for safe keeping while I’m away.
“I think so,” I say, glancing at the pile of essentials.
Passport, ticket, phone charger, plug adaptor. The necessities for starting a new life, apparently.
“I still don’t understand why it has to be Spain,” my mum frowns. “Are you sure you don’t want to just take a break and stay here?”
I look at her, at the fine lines on her face and the worry etched in her eyes. “I’m sure, Mum. I need this. It’ll be good for me. Besides, I only get to be twenty-five with no real responsibilities once, right?”
Her expression softens. “Right,” she agrees, stepping forward and pulling me into a tight hug. “I just worry about you being so far away, love.”
I squeeze her tightly. “I’ll be okay. I promise. It’s quicker to fly to Spain than drive to London - I’ll let you know when I arrive.
I step back and give her a cheeky wink. “Be excited for me, mum,” I whisper. “Please.”
“Always!”
∞∞∞
The drive to the airport is quiet.
I gaze out the taxi window and watch the familiar streets blur past. It’s cold, dark, and raining - no surprise there for the miserable January weather - but as much as I’m ready to leave, a pang of nostalgia stirs in my chest.
I plan to return, of course. It’s just strange to think I won’t be back for a good while.
By the time I reach the airport, nerves hit me with full force. My palms are sweaty, and my stomach feels like it’s doing somersaults. Still, I power through it, refusing to give into the small voice in my mind whispering for me to turn round and run back to the familiar comfort of my childhood home.
I check in for my flight almost three hours early, but the staff don’t so much as bat an eyelid. Despite the early hour and the dreary month, the airport is as busy as ever, and I clutch my boarding pass like it’s the only thing tethering me to reality.
∞∞ ∞
My flight lands in Madrid slightly ahead of schedule, and as I make my way down the airplane steps, I’m greeted by a wall of warm air and sunlight. I had removed my coat on board, and though it’s hardly bikini weather, it’s still strange to register that I’m more than warm enough wearing only an oversized hoodie as my outer layer.
Thanks to my parents both being born in Ireland, I still have an EU passport, and nobody takes too much notice of little old me as I make my way through border control. The airport is an unfamiliar maze of chatter, announcements, and hurried footsteps, and once I’ve collected my large rucksack from the baggage carousel, I follow the signs to the taxi stand.
It’s not the most glamorous look, but that’s not really what I’m going for here anyway.
“Hola,” I say tentatively to a taxi driver after finding the line.
I studied Spanish to a decent enough level at school, but I’m admittedly a little rusty. Not wanting to push my luck so early on in my trip, I lean over and hand him the address of the hostel I’ve booked to stay in for the first week. I’d noted it down on a piece of paper - prepared and organised as always - and I wait until he nods in confirmation and motions for me to get in the back of the car.
I send out my messages to Laura and my mother, letting them know that I’ve arrived safely; and with the turn of a key and the stutter of an engine, we’re off.
Madrid unfolds before me like a vibrant painting. I’ve watched so many vlogs in preparation for my visit, but nothing compares to actually seeing it for myself.
I’ve decided to document my own journey so that I can look back in years to come at this adventure, and I hold my phone up to the car window and record as we zoom through the streets which are lined with trees, grand plazas bustling with people, and buildings adorned with intricate wrought-iron balconies.
I stop recording, feeling a twinge of excitement.
This is it. This is really happening.
It takes around an hour or so to reach the hostel, which is exactly what I expected: small, clean, and crowded with plenty of other travelers. I’ve never stayed in a hostel before, but the idea isn’t all that terrifying - after all, this seems like the obvious way to meet other similar-minded people.
I’d been nervous about communicating given my rusty Spanish, but so far, so good. The man at the reception is friendly enough, and he makes quick work of checking me in and showing me to my room.
Unfortunately, all of the single rooms had been pre-booked, meaning that my bed is within a shared dorm. The air is thick with the scent of someone’s overly floral perfume and faint traces of sweat, but at least it’s clean and tidy.
It might not have been my first choice, but it’s a start. Besides, this way I’ll be more likely to actually talk to people and make friends. Right?
There’s nobody around, and I’m tempted to lie down and close my eyes. After all, it’s been an emotionally overwhelming morning.
But outside, the spring sun is shining and there is much of the day left, so I decide to push through and set out to explore -
I’m just not quite sure where to start.
Unpacking my rucksack doesn’t take too long given that I don’t really have many things with me. I change into some fresh clothes - a pair of flared jeans, a cropped tee and a warm cardigan - along with a mini belt bag and head back towards the reception desk.
Behind the counter sits a young woman with sleek black hair pulled into a loose ponytail. Her name tag reads Sofía , and she’s scribbling something in a notebook.
She looks up immediately when I approach, her warm brown eyes lighting up.
“Hola,” she says with a friendly smile. “Can I help you?”
Her accent softens the edges of her English, making it sound melodic.
“Hi,” I begin, feeling a little out of my depth. “I’m new here - I mean, I just arrived today. I was wondering if you could maybe recommend some places to go? I don’t really know where to start.”
Her smile widens. “Of course! Are you looking for the famous places, or something a little more... local?”
I hesitate. “A bit of both?”
“Good answer,” she says with a small laugh, reaching under the counter to grab a folded city map. “Okay, for a first-timer, you have to visit El Retiro . It’s a huge park - beautiful, very peaceful. Perfect for walking and people-watching, and not too far from here.”
I nod, imagining myself strolling through the park. I’d seen a lot of photos of it on social media.
“Then,” she continues, marking the map with a pen, “you must go to La Latina . On Sundays, there’s a big street market. You can find everything there. Food, clothes, trinkets...”
“That sounds amazing,” I say, leaning further over the counter to look at the map as she continues to mark it .
“And of course, you have to try tapas while you’re there,” Sofía adds, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. “There’s a place I would highly recommend: Casa Lucas . It’s small, but the food? Incredible . You’ll thank me later.”
I smile as she hands me the marked up map. “This is exactly what I needed,” I tell her. “Thank you so much.”
Sofia waves off my gratitude with a flick of her hand. “No problem! If you need more recommendations, just ask. Madrid is my city. I’ll make sure you fall in love with it.”
I step away, clutching the map. I can’t help but smile to myself.
Madrid might not be my city, but maybe, just maybe, it could be.
∞∞∞
By the time I return to the hostel, the city lights are starting to glow against the softening sky. My feet ache from walking around the city all day, but I feel strangely energised.
Madrid is already beginning to weave its charm around me.
I push open the door to the dorm, partly expecting it to be empty. Instead, I’m greeted by the sight of three people sprawled on their respective beds.
All three of them look up in synchronisation, and for a moment, we all blink at each other. They clearly weren’t expecting me to just come bursting in, and I’m so tired after exploring all day that it didn’t really cross my mind to wait for a moment.
“Hey,” says a tall, freckled boy with messy blonde hair and kind eyes. He’s perched on the top bunk near the window, balancing a paperback on his stomach. Its spine is bent as though it’s been read and reread a dozen times. “You must be the newbie.”
I smile awkwardly. “Yeah, that’s me. Olivia.”
“Ben,” he says, his accent unmistakable. “Australian, in case the accent didn’t give it away.”
“It definitely did,” I reply.
He raises the book in a mock toast. “Well, welcome to the madhouse, Olivia.”
The girl on the bed opposite mine swings her legs over the edge and sits up. She’s beautiful. Her rich, dark curls frame her face, and her amber eyes practically sparkle with mischief. She’s wearing a bohemian-style dress, her wrists adorned with jingling bracelets.
“I’m Camila,” she says, her Italian accent rolling off her tongue like music. She gestures toward the petite girl next to her, who’s busy scrolling through her phone. “And this is Zoey.”
Zoey glances up briefly, offering me a shy wave. She has short, jet-black hair tucked behind her ears, and she’s dressed in an oversized hoodie and ripped jeans.
“Hi,” I say, nodding at each of them as I unclip my bag from around my waist and place it down on the bed. “It’s lovely to meet you all.”
“Have you been in Madrid for long?” Camila asks, tilting her head.
“I just got here this afternoon,” I tell her.
“Where are you from?” Ben says, swinging his legs over the side of his bunk.
“Manchester, U.K.”
“Ah, a Brit!” Camila says, her smile widening. “I spent a month in London last year. A gorgeous city, really; but so expensive. ”
I hum in agreement as I move to sit on my bed. “Tell me about it. It’s much cheaper up north,” I say.
It’s a relief to finally sit down after walking around so much, and my feet practically sing as I kick my trainers off and tuck them under the bed.
“What brings you to Madrid?” Zoey asks, her Scottish accent soft but distinct all the same.
I hesitate before I answer the question. The weight of the past few weeks is still fresh, and though the three of them seem friendly enough, I don’t want to go into too much detail.
“I wanted a change of scenery, and this seemed as good a place as any,” I say, keeping it simple. “A fresh start, I guess.”
Ben nods knowingly. “Definitely a good place for it. Madrid’s got this vibe. Chaotic, but in the best way.”
“How long are you staying?” Camila asks, tilting her head.
“I’m… actually, I’m not sure yet,” I admit. “I’m not in any rush to leave. I was thinking about teaching English, and I’ve been in touch with a few different agencies about it, but I’ll see how things go.”
“Well, there’s always a demand for that,” Zoey says.
I nod. “Here’s hoping,” I smile before my eyes flicker around them. “How about you guys? How long are you all staying for?”
“Not too much longer for me,” Ben says. “I’ve been traveling around Europe for a couple of months now. Madrid’s my last stop before heading home.”
“ Months ?” I echo, impressed. “That sounds incredible.”
“I can’t lie, it's been pretty epic,” he replies. “But my bank account disagrees, so it’s probably time to face reality.”
“I’ve got another two weeks or so here,” Camila says. “I’m kind of winging it. Wherever feels right, I go. I’m thinking of heading to Seville next.”
“That’s so cool,” I say, a little envious of her carefree spirit. “What about you, Zoey?”
Zoey shrugs, tucking her legs beneath her on the bed. “I’ve been here for a week already, but I don’t have much of a plan. Might head to Barcelona next, or... who knows?”
“Wow. It sounds like you’re all pros at this travel thing,” I say with a laugh.
Camila smiles. “You’ll catch on quickly.”
“Yeah, you will,” Ben agrees. “So, have you managed to explore yet?”
“A little,” I confirm.
“And how was it?” he presses.
“It’s... beautiful,” I say, letting out a soft laugh. “I think I’m already falling in love with this city.”
“You’ll love it even more at night,” Camila says. “We’re going out tonight, actually. You should come with us!”
Zoey perks up at that, her quiet energy turning a little more lively. “Ben has found a rooftop bar that’s supposed to have incredible views of the city.”
The offer is certainly tempting, but as much as I would love to get to know the three of them better, I’m exhausted. I didn’t sleep well last night, and after spending the morning travelling and the afternoon wandering around a new city, I’m completely drained.
“Thank you so much, but I’ll have to pass. It sounds amazing, honestly, but I’m absolutely wiped out.”
“Ah, come on!” Ben protests with a grin. “The best cure for exhaustion is a drink. Or three.”
They laugh in unison at that, and I smile at the sound.
“Tomorrow,” I promise, holding up my hands in surrender. “I’ll definitely join you tomorrow night - if you’re all up for going out, that is. I just need to recharge a bit first.”
Camila studies me with a critical eye, then smirks. “Fine, tomorrow it is. But no excuses, okay?”
“Deal,” I say, already feeling a wave of relief at the thought of crawling under the covers.
It’s not that much later that the three of them start getting ready. Their easy banter fills the room as they discuss the night ahead, and I watch as they move towards the door.
“You’re sure you won’t join us?” Camila asks as they’re about to leave.
I’m comfortably tucked up in bed and genuinely couldn’t think of anything worse than going out right now.
“Tomorrow,” I promise.
She smiles, and the door clicks shut behind them as they head out. The room falls into a peaceful silence, and I send a quick message to my mum and Laura to update them that my dorm mates seem lovely before I lie back in bed and allow the soft hum of the city outside to lull me into a sense of calm.
Tomorrow , I think, closing my eyes.
Tomorrow, I’ll start saying yes.