Ursula's heart tripped and skipped and flipped at the sight of him. The very object of her affection! The reason she had taken the long way round was on the unlikely chance that she might engineer an "accidental" meeting with Benjamin Cole. And here he was! What luck.
This excerpt from 'Life After Life' by Kate Atkinson vividly captures the intense emotions associated with love and anticipation. Ursula’s physical reactions—her heart tripling, skipping, and flipping—illustrate the powerful effect that affection can have on an individual. Their meeting is portrayed as almost serendipitous, emphasizing the idea that life often surprises us when we least expect it, especially in matters of the heart. The depiction of her deliberate effort to take a detour underscores the lengths to which she is willing to go for a chance encounter with Benjamin Cole, revealing her deep longing and admiration. Such moments highlight the complex interplay between hope and fate, where small decisions and chances create meaningful, sometimes transformative, experiences. The excitement and nervousness encapsulated here remind us of the universal human experience of longing for connection, and how seemingly simple moments can stir profound emotional responses, shaping our perceptions and memories. Kate Atkinson’s writing invites us to reflect on how love can manifest unexpectedly and beautifully, often intertwined with the contours of daily life and chance encounters, making ordinary days feel extraordinary.
