Fly to Cape Town

6am alarm. I’m already awake, Jordan is too. Grabbing phones, tapping away to stop the noise. Two things are confirmed - the Uber is on time, and Jordan’s COVID result is negative. Celebration and relief.

Saying goodbye to Jordan is always so hard. I really love spending time with her, and this morning she was especially soft and warm. This would mark the first time this year that I was the one flying away from her; which are easier shoes to be wearing.

Goodbye to you Jordan. This visit has been so beautiful. In four days I feel that I was both able to dip a toe into your Joburg life of independence as well as spend some one on one time with you that really makes me feel supported, loved, inspired and comforted. I have a feeling that I will see you again sooner than expected.

The Uber ride is made significant by the fact that the driver has a second phone up on the dashboard. It’s playing Youtube videos of American political talk shows. I observe emotions of deep frustration and irritation for the presenters. I let those feelings go and really listened to what they had to say; a sort of pro-trump propaganda, deeply emotive examples being used against Biden and honestly a huge lack of compassion. It’s quite sad to see.

I’m in the line to board the plane when Jordan sends me a poem:

This makes me feel like the most loved and special person on this planet. I shed a tear while scanning my boarding pass; a huge smile on my face.

The flight is spent writing a blog post about my time in Joburg with Jordan, I feel cute and warm doing it.