Rekindling the flickering flame. Will we find a way to be together despite life?

Back in 2013, during a summer escapade in Greece, I crossed paths with Paul. It was a blast, and we hit it off instantly. We kept in touch even after the vacation buzz faded, managing to meet up despite the distance — me in London, him in Manchester. Our thing was more of a “let’s-have-fun” deal, never a formal relationship. Yeah, we were both in other relationships at the time and yeah, we weren’t exactly loyal when we’d see each other.

Fast forward to 2015, Africa, where Paul was volunteering as a doctor. We messaged each other non-stop during that time, feeling the closest we ever got to something serious. When he came back to the UK we spent some amazing time together. But life had a curveball for us — I found out I was pregnant. It was messy; he had a girlfriend, his dad was sick, and we weren’t even officially together.

Heartbroken and facing the tough decision of ending up the pregnancy, I cut ties and moved back to Spain. Months later, he reached out after a rough patch in his life. His dad had passed, and his relationship had ended too.

Life moved on, and we exchanged occasional greetings. He had also moved on and a fellow Dr moved in with him. Then, one day he vanished from my socials; turns out, his controlling ex made him cut off from everyone, including me. It was a tough time, but I was in a good place with my new boyfriend. Then the pandemic hit, and we reconnected out of concern. I got pregnant, and he shared in my happiness.

Skipping ahead to 2023, after a recent solo trip to London to clear my mind (I was going through a distant relationship and needed a weekend break from caring for my toddler), Paul noticed my Instagram post revealing my location and proposed grabbing a pint during the day.It had been 8 years, but meeting him felt as magical as that day in Greece. We spilled stories, laughed, and enjoyed the day. Nothing happened, but I could feel he was still much attracted to me. He dropped the bomb about moving to Saudi Arabia for a job, but he reassured me it wouldn’t be forever.

Now, we’re texting every day, eagerly anticipating my return to London before he jets off. It’s a mix of excitement and nerves — guilt for my current relationship but an eagerness to see what’s in store. Sometimes, life throws a surprise twist, reigniting old flames and defying the odds.