From Rain to Sun: An Emigrant’s Journey

Posted by – Peter Rehn

The rain was pelting down in rural Ireland on this cold November day. Temperatures were in single digits. It was their last full day in their house, a home they’d lived in for twenty years. Twenty very happy years. Tomorrow the house would exchange hands, with new owners moving in, making it their own. They’d fill the space with their own things, slowly making the house their home.

Now, the couple scurried around, packing up the last bits, hoping everything would fit into storage and into the car in which they would embark on their journey. The ferry to Spain would leave the following day, taking them to their new life, a life they had been planning for a while now.

A last glance around the house, stuffing the last items into spaces that didn’t really exist. The rooms echoed now, smelling faintly of dust and old paint, the warmth of twenty winters reflecting from the walls.

Locking up for the last time and driving off. Emotions flipping rapidly between elation and sadness. Excitement and trepidation. Fear of the unknown future, excited about its prospects.

After watching the van being packed up outside the storage, finally they were en route to the ferry. The wipers squealed against the glass, rain hammering so loud it drowned out the radio. It was easy to get distracted with so much occupying the mind. Eyes on the road, easy on the throttle. Don’t skid.

“We’re really doing this,” she whispered to herself, sitting in the passenger seat, watching the rain rush by through the window.

Thirty-six hours at sea, with nothing to do except let the body and mind relax. The ferry groaned with every swell, salt and diesel hanging in the air. They sipped bitter coffee, bodies aching, finally still. The whole body hurt after carrying so many boxes, moving so many things. A well-needed rest.

Off the ferry, onto new shores. Google Maps as company, expertly guiding them on the long road journey ahead.

Six hours later, a new town, new temporary accommodation. From a five-bedroom house, into a two-bedroom apartment. All belongings are in storage. That would come out later.

From living in the countryside to living in the middle of a town. From nothing on your doorstep to everything on your doorstep. Time to acclimatize.

House hunting next. There were some prospects, some appointments previously made.

First house a disappointment, it’s amazing what you can do with pictures. You can’t smell, nor really see the damp through pictures. Yet.

Onto the next one. Wow! What a view. Let’s buy it.

Offer accepted. Let the process begin.

Frustration.

Finally, the deal is done. Boxes ticked. Keys handed over.

Let’s get all that stuff out of storage and turn this new house into a home.

The keys were cold in their palms, but outside the sun was warm, cicadas humming in the trees.

Time to live again.

Emigrating is like writing: you pack up what matters, leave behind what you think doesn’t, and trust that the next page will hold something worth reading. Every emigrant’s journey is also a story — one of letting go, embracing uncertainty, and writing a new chapter.

Posted By

Peter Rehn

About Peter Rehn: I’m Peter, born in the Swedish speaking part of Finland, temporarily living in Spain, having spent the past two decades in Ireland. I discovered how fun writing can be a two years ago, so I wrote a short story of 9,000 words about our three legged cat, which I self-published. That led to conversations which led to searching for competitions and quite a lot of writing. Through some feedback exchanges I’ve been encouraged not to stop, so I am still writing. I have a few flash fiction stories published on online platforms.
https://amzn.eu/d/h5A9z8m
https://amzn.eu/d/9oh02lt
https://amzn.eu/d/8bLfYYw

Follow Peter Rehn on 𝕏: @bebabuddy68

More from Peter Rehn: https://theblogera.com/author/peter-rehn/

We’re always looking for new voices and perspectives. Submit your post by clicking here.