The Phoenix And The Albatross

A Rainy day In Paris -

"When I looked into his eyes, I realised I could never part from him"

Our first business dinner.

The Italian businessman who sat with us asked where we both met. We both stayed silent. Then we answered at the same time. I said Kayseri and he said Paris. And then he told the most romantic anecdote that never actually happened,

A rainy day in Paris.

"Rain. It started to rain suddenly" "An enchanting rain in Paris."

"It rains often in Paris." I chimed in.

"Yes, at that time, I was passing a movie theatre."

"He loves movies. You can tell he loves art." I interrupted, my heart racing as I contributed to a story that a part of me wished actually happened.

"True." "I went into the movies and stood in line to buy tickets, next to a girl who was in front of me. She smelt incredible. The most wonderful perfume I had ever smelt in my life. It was dark, of course, she had her back to me, so I couldn't see her. I was so nervous that I couldn't even move. And then, she slowly turned her face to me. I looked at her. Sanem."

The words rolled off of his tongue so effortlessly. So smoothly, As if the words were rehearsed. A radiant, small smirk appeared upon his face as he told everyone about the night we met: his alluring sepia eyes shifted over to me after saying my name. How beautifully he pronounced it - how naturally it came out of his mouth.

He stared at me

And I stared back at him.

When I looked into his eyes, I realised that I could never part with him.