Visiting London again ten years later

London is where I lived for 8 years with fond memories. I love London and I mean it: I have written a collection of essays remembering the days I was there, essentially my love letters to it. I cried a few times emotionally when its images somehow appeared in my mind. I even dreamed of London streets once in a while.

It’s not easy for one to say love a place because just as you love someone, most times you are sympathetic and exaggerating but you know which ones are real. I know I love London for real.

So here I am again after ten years and walked in the parks and streets where I used to be and am still familiar with. I stepped carefully on the ground to be sure the touch is real. I take the Tube lines I use to take, and get off at the places I have been longing for sometimes.

Then on the top of Primrose Hill, suddenly I realized I have left some pieces of my soul right there when I left, and they were rushing back to me at that moment, they were happy to reunite with me and I embraced them. However, when I had to leave again, they hesitated and told me they would rather stay as they have become part of London. They say they are ok not to be with me and to continue to float in the wind and rain of London. There are many souls like that in London and they formed their own world. They know I will be back.