The sun was setting, and a chill hung in the air. Hugh and I sat quietly, gazing at the sea, still damp from our surf session. With only the sound of waves crashing on the shore, I reflected on our summer together. I could hardly believe how quickly I had come to know Hugh. We had met just six weeks earlier, yet I already knew everything about his family, friends, and the life he envisioned. Now, sitting on the beach where we first met, I dreaded the thought of saying goodbye in a few weeks when I was due to move to London. Even the thought was agonizing.
A Surprise Proposal
'Lauren?' Hugh said, looking out at the ocean. 'Yes?' I replied. 'Do you want to get married?' he asked. I laughed, assuming he was joking, but then I saw what he was holding: a silver ring with a small sapphire. 'It was my mum's,' he said. My stomach dropped. I could only assume he had lost his mind.
Six weeks earlier, in August 2020, I had moved back in with my parents after a painful breakup. I was at rock bottom: unemployed and alone. Although I was due to move to a London university that September, I had just over a month to spend in a small Cornish fishing village, where the only road led to a field full of cows. I felt stuck and bored, as if I had regressed to my teenage self.
Learning to Surf
I decided this was the perfect time to learn to surf. A friend knew a 'good instructor' — and that is how I met Hugh. We were introduced at a pub initially. He was funny and friendly, and we arranged our first lesson for the next day. As I drove to the beach, I was nervous. I hoped he would not think this was a date; a relationship was the last thing I wanted. I pulled up and saw him waiting, a red surfboard beside him. His blonde hair was matted with salt water, and he looked like he spent every waking moment outdoors. I realized he was attractive — and suddenly, I was terrified of embarrassing myself.
'I've never surfed in my life,' I said with a nervous laugh. 'You'll be golden,' he replied, walking ahead with the board on his head. Out past the break point, we sat on our boards, floating over the gentle swell. We chatted and laughed; soon, an hour had passed without us realizing. After failing spectacularly to catch a wave, we sat on the beach and talked well into the evening. It was as if we had known each other for years. As it grew colder and darker, we sat closer together. He teased me about my lack of surfing skills, and I blamed his poor teaching. 'We'll have to set up some more lessons, then,' he said. 'I guess so,' I replied, laughing. And then he kissed me.
Setting Boundaries
'We'll never be anything serious, Hugh,' I told him immediately. He let out a surprised laugh and shook his head. Fresh from a breakup and with university on the horizon, I refused to even consider a relationship. But a fun summer with someone was not off the cards. And he agreed. From that moment, Hugh and I spent every day and night together. We only had six weeks, so sleep was wasted time. We lounged on beaches, trekked through fields, attended gigs in Falmouth, and explored every inch of Cornwall. At night, we talked until sunrise. We were addicted to each other's company.
Falling in Love
When we finally returned to that beach where we first met, six weeks later, I had fallen in love. But I could not stay in Cornwall, and I thought long-distance would never work. Then everything changed. In the seconds after Hugh proposed, I thought about my previous relationships and how they had eroded my confidence. I worried Hugh could be hiding a darker side, like the others before him. But then I remembered how he had reacted when I confided in him about my experiences with men; his visible hurt at imagining how they had spoken to me. I could not imagine my life without Hugh. In fact, I could not imagine a better way to spend my life than being married to him. So I went with my gut. 'Yes. I will marry you,' I said.
That night, lying next to each other, Hugh leaned over to me. 'Don't worry. This will work.' I felt nauseous — excited and happy, of course, but also scared. Scared of what my parents might think, scared of how it would work, and scared I had made the wrong decision. But I had not. I moved to London, and he went to university in Bath. For the first two years, we maintained a long-distance relationship, seeing each other every few weeks. Once we both graduated, we moved to Bristol together. Four years after that first lesson, our wedding was perfect: a celebration with friends and family on Porthleven harbour.
Happily Ever After
Now, as we approach our two-year anniversary, I could not be happier. Marrying Hugh was the best decision I ever made, and I have realized that sometimes it is best to think with your heart rather than your head. There will always be a reason not to do something. But if it makes you feel alive, just do it — and figure out the consequences later. In the end, the only thing that matters is your happiness.
