We’re So Back
I’m back in Barcelona!
The plane touched the ground, and I landed in place.
Sure, a part of me wondered if coming back under different conditions—not study abroad, not running around the city with new friends and constant adventure—would change anything. If it would feel less magical.
That fear quickly went dormant as I felt myself sink into comfort and expand into a dream.
It was Christmas Day. I floated through the El Prat airport in my red moto jacket and ribboned hair. Spanish sang around me. I scanned my brand-new passport and, even though I nearly gave myself a heart attack when the machine flashed “no permitido” (wrong lane—my fault), I made it through.
In the cab, I looked out the window as the speed of the car turned the city into flipping pages of a memory book. Then I saw my North Star—Mount Tibidabo—where Mr. International and I had our first date. That’s when I knew I was almost home.
Soon, I was pulling out the keys Mr. International made me keep six months ago—for this exact moment. And although nothing could have told us that day that everything would be more than fine, as I turned the keys in the door, I thought… how could it not have been?
I found Mr. International still dreaming—literally asleep. Santa successfully delivered the gift before the kid woke up lol.
We opened presents in front of our houseplant lit by LED lights, excuse me—our Christmas tree, and soon La Ballerine arrived. The three of us opened our time capsule from six months ago and soaked in the miracle of being in the same place again—on Christmas Day.
In the time capsule video, I heard myself say:
“When we’re back together again, time is really impermanent when you find the people you truly love.”
We completely freaked out. All day, I had been saying it felt like no time had passed—as if I had never left the apartment. Like living in California and Texas was a dream, not the other way around.
In the time capsule, Mr. International said, “I hope everyone remembers the best moments of Hudson in Barcelona—and the next time you come, you come with the energy to stay longer… or stay forever.”
Soon, we were back on the moto, heading to his parents’ house in Mataró. Oh, how I missed the moto. Half-asleep on the ride home from an overflow of joy, love, and lasagna, I laughed my real, full laugh as Mr. International bent down so the wind would hit my face to keep me awake.
With the leather seat beneath me again and the city rushing past—no longer a place in my mind, but a sight in my eyes—we made it home and parked in the garage.
“Hudson + Mr. International 4ever” was still etched into the dusty window of the abandoned car. It looked as if we’d written it yesterday—when we were shaking dirt from our fingers like it was shaking the fear of what would happen when I left Spain.
I’m delighted to say: I am back. We’re so back.
I am here with the energy to stay longer—and yes, with the intention to figure out how to eventually make it forever.
In every expansion of my heart, mind, and soul that this city stretches me into, I am home again—keys to my heart unlocked—until the next impermanent pass of time.