On and Off the Track

F I F T Y.

As soon as Charles was finished at the track we went straight back to the hotel and got ready to go out with Mila, Pierre, Kelly and Max. Charles was in a euphoric trance the entire time, he was still in disbelief that he had won and couldn't stop smiling since he got out the car. The entire time I was getting ready he refused to take his hands off me, his kisses on my cheeks ruining my make up as he did so. But I didn't care and couldn't help but be captivated by the way his face lit up with each genuine chuckle. It's as if the room itself became brighter, more alive. His happiness was like a contagious warmth, and as I watched him, a serene joy settled over my heart. As we left the hotel, I took a photo of us. It was a moment like this which I wanted to freeze in time and return back to whenever I wanted.

The morning sun spilled through the half-drawn curtains casting a soft glow on the luxurious confines of our hotel room in the heart of the city, a harsh contrast to the haze that lingered in my head. Blinking against the daylight, I slowly became aware of the unfamiliar room around me. Charles and I went straight from the club to the plane in order to wake up in Paris. It took a moment for the memories of the night before to trickle back. Laughter, dancing, and the clinking of glasses in a whole other part of the country felt like days ago when in reality it was only a couple hours ago that they occurred.

Beside me, he stirred, his arm draped over me protectively. His eyes flickered open, and for a moment, we exchanged a groggy, half-smiling acknowledgement of the memories of last night. The scent of unfamiliar sheets and the distant sounds of the city awakening added to the surreal feeling of waking up in a new place with a familiar face. The throbbing in my head served as a reminder of the festivities from the night before. As we both sat up, the room swayed momentarily, and we shared a lighthearted chuckle at the aftermath of our celebratory night. The remnants of a late-night adventure were scattered across the room, half empty water bottles, clothes falling out of our suitcases and the faint scent of last night's escapades.

I reached over to my phone, scrolling through the photos of last night and chuckling about them to Charles as the memories began to come floating back.