Somehow, I’d managed not to give away mine and John’s scheme to my family, which was a miracle considering how excited I was. I just wanted to spill everything to them. Throughout the week, I’d managed to pack my suitcase little and often, hopefully without drawing any attention to myself, and had also notified my boss of my absence over the next two weeks. Thankfully, he hadn’t questioned it, and my plan was going well for now. Presently, it was Thursday night and I was laying in my bed, rereading John’s note and smiling, considering how I’d pay him back for the dress he’d bought me - I had made sure to pack it. I put the note down and thought about sleeping.

My parents and my sister had gone to bed a long while ago, leaving me to dwell on my thoughts, alone in the darkness. I felt like I’d never sleep, since I clearly had too much to think about.

How could I be sure John would even turn up? What if he decided there was someone he liked better, and went off with them instead? He’d had the rest of the week to rethink our arrangement, and what if he’d changed his mind? He had no way of contacting me if he had decided. I let out a shaky little sigh and tried not to think about it anymore, because I knew it would make me cry.

I attempted to think positively about it, which helped a little. John had given me his word, promising he’d be there. Why should I doubt it?

Eventually, after I’d had enough of staring at the ceiling and drowning in my own sorrows, I actually tried to sleep. I set my alarm for 4am, which was only in a few hours time, and despite my earlier doubts, I fell asleep almost instantly.

When I awoke to the piercing sound of my alarm, I genuinely considered turning over and going back to sleep, instead of leaving my warm bed at such a ridiculous hour of the morning. But then I remembered. The dose of adrenaline I received when it occurred to me what was happening brought me to my senses almost instantly, and I shot out of bed, dressed in what I’d laid out the night before, and was gone within minutes. I would grab breakfast at a petrol station on my way, since I didn’t want to risk waking my family. However, as I stood at the front door, suitcase in hand, I had second thoughts. I knew I’d cause my parents a great deal of stress if I left without any explanation. But I so wanted to see John again, and this was my only option at present. My solution was to write a quick note explaining the reason for my departure, but not in enough detail for my parents to find me.

Then I left the cool, cozy darkness of my home that you find at such an early hour, and was on the motorway within minutes. I still felt a little twinge of guilt, but that was driven away when I turned on the radio and heard a Power Station song that reminded me why I’d done this in the first place. I was going to spend two whole weeks with the best guy I’d met yet!