What are coincidences? Are they merely the result of random events, or do they serve as explanations for moments that seem preordained? Personally, I don’t subscribe to the notion of coincidences; some experiences are simply too remarkable to attribute to chance. The beauty inherent in these “coincidences” deserves recognition.
Nestled just outside Edinburgh, Musselburgh is a charming little town that often escapes the attention of tourists. However, during my study abroad program in Dalkeith, I no longer felt like a visitor; I was a local eager to explore the coastal gems nearby. Missing my sunny college town of Corpus Christi, I decided to take a bus to the nearest beach. As I arrived in Musselburgh, I was instantly reminded of Corpus Christi—the skate park, the sandy shores, and the quaint boats bobbing in the harbor. Exploring on my own was liberating; it gave me the freedom to shape my day as I pleased.
While wandering across a pedestrian bridge, I was struck by the sight of love locks adorning its rails. Unlike the famous locks of Paris, the sparse placements here told unique stories. Each lock symbolized a connection to Musselburgh, making it special in its own right. I felt an undeniable affection for the town and wanted to leave my mark with a lovelock dedicated to my boyfriend. The day I departed from the States felt like a gut punch; we had only started dating a few weeks before my trip, and all I longed for was to be in his arms again. To distract myself from the heartache of long-distance love, I found myself exploring new towns.
With only an hour before the last bus back to Dalkeith, I was on a mission to find a lock. I scoured every grocery store and finally stumbled upon a little dollar store where I found a pink padlock. In a hurry, I dashed to the school supplies aisle to grab a black sharpie for our names and scissors to open the lock’s packaging. While hastily opening it, I accidentally sliced my finger, leaving blood on the lock. “Now that’s true love,” I chuckled, feeling as though I had inadvertently performed a blood ritual to ensure our love would endure forever.
Racing to the bridge, I searched for the perfect spot to attach the lock, leaving space for a future one. After securing it, I decided to bury one of the keys near a bench, planning to send another to my boyfriend while keeping the last for myself. With my heart full, I hurried to catch my bus, thrilled by the day’s adventure.
Fast forward to August 4, 2017—my study abroad experience had come to a close. As I descended the escalator at the airport, a warm embrace from my boyfriend felt like coming home. That night, we celebrated our reunion, both excited and apprehensive about our senior year of college ahead.
When February rolled around, I was searching for something special for my fiancé. Suddenly, inspiration struck: a lovelock engraved with our baby’s name. We often discussed returning to Scotland, and I envisioned us placing this lock on the bridge together. After a quick search on Etsy, I found the perfect one that could even feature our baby’s ultrasound picture. He loved the gift, especially paired with a heart-shaped box of chicken nuggets.
Mike was destined to be an amazing father. However, when our son Maxon was born, he faced some health challenges and required blood transfusions, spending time in the NICU. It was a tough period for us, but the NICU nurses reassured us that everything would be alright. One day, I met the head nurse, and her accent struck a chord. When I learned she had lived in Scotland, I excitedly shared the story of our lovelock. To my astonishment, she offered to take our new lock back with her to the bridge. Initially, I was skeptical—could it really be that simple? But something told me this was meant to be, so I entrusted her with our lock.
Months went by without a word, yet Maxon thrived at home. One day, we received pictures confirming that our lovelock had made it to the Musselburgh bridge. The weather had rusted our pink lock, but seeing it alongside our son’s brought tears of joy to my eyes. It was a poignant reminder of how interconnected our lives are and the lengths strangers will go to help others.
The story didn’t end there. The year following Maxon’s birth, I purchased another lock from Etsy as my “something blue” for our wedding, wearing it on my garter. We found affordable tickets to Scotland for our honeymoon and were eager to add our third lock to the bridge. Surprisingly, we were assigned the same room at the palace in Dalkeith where I had stayed during my studies. It felt surreal to share that space with my husband, who I had missed so dearly.
On our visit to Musselburgh, we were anxious yet hopeful that our locks remained intact. It had been a year since we placed Maxon’s lock and two years since my original lock. Having heard stories of lovelock bridges being cleared, I couldn’t shake my worry. However, upon arriving, we were overjoyed to find all our locks still there. We added our new lock, tossing the key into the water this time, believing our love would last a lifetime. Our family’s journey is now forever etched on the bridge in Musselburgh, and as our story unfolds, we look forward to adding more memories to this beautiful Scottish landmark.
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Summary: The narrative beautifully intertwines love and fate through the symbolism of love locks in Musselburgh, Scotland. The author shares personal experiences from her study abroad trip, the challenges of long-distance relationships, and the joy of starting a family. The locks serve as a tangible testament to the enduring nature of love and the serendipitous connections that bring people together.