Coincidences—what do they really mean? Are they merely random events, or do they serve as hints from the universe that everything is interconnected? Personally, I lean toward the latter. Some moments in life are just too remarkable to be dismissed as mere happenstance.
Nestled just outside Edinburgh lies Musselburgh, a charming Scottish town that often goes unnoticed by tourists. But for me, it was home during my study abroad experience. Living in Dalkeith, I was eager to explore the nearby coastal towns. Longing for the sunny shores of my college town in Corpus Christi, I boarded a bus to the nearest beach. The moment I arrived in Musselburgh, nostalgia washed over me; the skate park, sandy beaches, and quaint boats at the harbor reminded me so much of home.
While wandering aimlessly across a pedestrian bridge, I stumbled upon an array of love locks adorning its rails. Though it lacked the grandeur of Paris, Musselburgh held its own charm. Each lock had its own story, and I felt a connection to the town that compelled me to leave a piece of my heart there. My heart ached for my boyfriend back home, especially since we were newly dating when I left. To cope with the challenges of long-distance love, I sought adventures in every corner of the town.
In a rush to find a lock before the last bus back to Dalkeith, I scoured every shop until I finally found a pink padlock in a little dollar store. I grabbed a black Sharpie to “engrave” our names and even picked up a pair of scissors to help open the plastic packaging. In my haste, I sliced my finger, leaving a small trail of blood on the lock. I chuckled to myself, thinking, “Now that’s true love!” It felt like I had unwittingly performed a blood ritual, binding our love for eternity.
I hurried back to the bridge to find the perfect spot for our lock, leaving space for a future lock. I buried one of the three keys near a bench, intending to send one to my boyfriend and keep the last for myself. With my heart lightened by the day’s adventure, I made my way to the bus station, satisfied.
Fast forward to August 4, 2017—my study abroad experience had come to an end. As I descended the airport escalator, I was enveloped in a warm hug from my boyfriend, Jake. That night, we celebrated our reunion in a way only couples could. As February rolled around, I pondered what special gift to give him. Then it hit me: a love lock with our baby’s name on it! We had always talked about returning to Scotland, and I dreamed of placing this lock together on the bridge. After a quick search on Etsy, I found the perfect lock, even customizable with our baby’s ultrasound picture. Jake loved it, especially when paired with a heart-shaped box of chicken nuggets—what more could he want?
When our son, Leo, was born, he faced some health challenges that landed him in the NICU. It was a tough time, yet the nurses were incredibly supportive. One day, I met the head nurse, and her accent caught my attention. When I asked about it, she revealed she had lived in Scotland. Excitedly, I shared the story of our love locks and how we dreamed of returning to place Leo’s lock next to ours. To my surprise, she offered to take our lock with her to Scotland, where she would hand it off to a friend who could reach the bridge. Hesitant but believing in fate, I agreed, thinking this couldn’t just be a coincidence.
Months passed without updates. Just as Leo settled in at home, we received pictures confirming our lock had made it to the Musselburgh bridge. The pink lock had rusted a bit, but seeing it alongside our son’s lock moved me to tears, reminding me of the power of connection and kindness.
But the story doesn’t end there! For our wedding the following year, I bought another lock from Etsy as my “something blue” and wore it on my garter. We found great deals for tickets to Scotland for our honeymoon and were thrilled at the chance to add our third lock to the bridge. During our stay, we were even assigned the same room at the palace where I had stayed while studying abroad—how surreal!
When we finally returned to Musselburgh, we were nervous the locks might not be there. A year had passed since Leo’s lock was placed and two since mine. But to our delight, all three locks were still intact. We secured our third lock next to the others and tossed the key into the water, symbolizing that our love would endure forever. Our family’s journey is now etched in locks on that small Scottish bridge, and we look forward to continuing our story there.
In conclusion, there’s something undeniably magical about the way our lives weave together. Whether through love locks or other connections, it’s clear that our stories are intricately linked to places and moments that shape us.