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On the hectic streets of London, hidden amongst bustling tourists and busy residents, are two women. These women are young and in love and have a whole day of tourist activities ahead of them.
“It’s big.”
“That’s true.”
“And it spins
“I wouldn’t say it spins.”
“Well things start there and end there,” Harriet states, gesturing intently. “I’d say the whole thing spins.”
“Well it is a wheel,” Sonya concedes. Her laugh is buried under the noise of the city, but Harriet hears it anyway. She feels the delight sweep over her with the sound.
“A big wheel.”
“It is one of the worlds biggest.”
“Why do they call it the London eye?”
“Well, as you are aware, we are in London. And it gives you a view over the city. And the pods are kind of eye shaped I guess.”
“You guess? You’re a terrible tour guide.”
“I’ll do better.”
“Tower of London?”
“It’s a tower and it’s in London. Next.”
“Are there not multiple towers in London? What makes this one so special?”
“No tower towers like this one.”
“Okay Big Ben?”
“It’s big and we called him Ben.”
“But why? Is it short for big Benjamin? Were there other proposed names? Did we almost have Big Barry?”
“Well, many believe the tower is named after Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw the installation of the bell,” Sonya recites, trying to subtly slip her phone back into her pocket. It;’s not very subtle.
“You just googled that.”
“No I didn’t.”
“I watched you read that from your phone.”
“You wanted the tour guide experience. I'm giving you the tour guide experience.”
“I don’t think tour guides are supposed to be mean.”
“I’m giving you the standard of service that you’re paying for.”
“I’m not paying you.”
“Exactly.” Sonya laughs again, tugging her partner along.
/////
“So you ready?”
“Of course I’m ready! I said I wanted the tourist experience, riding this is the tourist experience right?”
“That’s right! And you’re not scared?”
“Pfft, me? Scared? Of a ferris wheel? Never.”
“It’s not just a ferris wheel Harri! It’s one of the largest wheels in the world! Wow, the grip on my hand is getting kind of tight there.”
“That’s because we’re a couple and I love you.”
“Nothing to do with your fear of heights?”
“I don’t have a fear of heights.”
“Good because we’re next!”
/////
As the wheel rises, positioning the pair over London and the rushing Thames below, Harriet’s grip gets tighter yet, Sonya’s hand turning white with the pressure.
“Harriet, baby, I’m losing circulation in my fingers now.”
“I just have so much love for you.”
“How about a little love for my fingers,” Sonya laughs as she pries her girlfriend’s hand off. “You haven’t moved an inch since we got on, come closer and look out!” She tugs at Harriet’s sleeve, urging her closer to the glass.
“You’re going to be the death of me.”
“It’s perfectly safe I promise!”
Leading Harriet gently Sonya positions them to look out across London.
With the sun high in the sky the city is lit up. Reflections of light bouncing off the shard and shimming against the waters beneath them.
“I can’t feel my legs but it really is an impressive city.”
“Told you.” Sonya’s tone is smug, Harriet hates when she’s right.
“It all looks so pretty from up here, and here I was thinking it always rained in England.”
“Well, we got pretty lucky. I did bring an umbrella anyway, you can never trust the sun here.”
Harriet sighs, a content noise. She hasn’t moved since Sonya positioned her, and her grip on Sonya’s hand is still pretty tight, but she seems to relax into the situation and try to enjoy the experience.
“This view might be my favourite part of the trip so far.”
Smiling shyly, Sonya turns to face her partner. “Let’s see if I can improve on that.”
Pulling a velvet box from her pocket, Sonya lowers herself onto one knee, Harriets hand still held in hers.
High above the streets of London, away from the bustling tourists and busy residents, are two women. They are young and in love, and they have a whole life ahead of them.