˗ˏˋ꒰ 💭 ꒱ ━ ☐ The serenpidity is the ability to make an unexpected discovery by chance. The serendipitist is the person who knows how to take advantage of unforeseen circumstances and, above all, does not allow chance to dominate them.
France, 1963...
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:; I don't know just how it happened I let down my guard Swore I'd never fall in love again But I fell hard. - avicii 🌨️
Downtown Saint-Jean d'Angély, 2:27 PM
In the gentle embrace of the winter holidays, the town of Saint-Jean d'Angély was wrapped in a blanket of snow, lending a magical air to its streets.
On a bench in the town center, Michèle and Lily-Rose sat, savoring croissants and pain au chocolat while chatting.
Lily-Rose marveled at the snowflakes swirling around them while Michèle, her cheeks flushed from the cold, spoke enthusiastically about her boyfriend.
"You can't imagine how sweet Alain is," she exclaimed with a radiant smile. "He brought me chocolates last night and gave me a rose. He's so thoughtful."
Lily-Rose listened attentively, a faint smile playing on her lips. She had never been as close to love as Michèle seemed to be with Alain. Curious, she decided to ask a question that had been on her mind for a while.
"How... do you know when you're in love ?" she asked softly, her gaze drifting into the falling snowflakes.
Her friend took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Well, it's hard to explain. But I think when you're in love, you feel a special connection with that person. You think about them all the time, you want to be with them, you feel happy when you're near them. It's like your heart beats faster just at the thought of seeing them."
She listened with particular attention, absorbing every word from Michèle. She wondered if she had ever felt something similar for someone. Then, a fleeting thought crossed her mind : what if it was Joseph...
Lily-Rose bit her lip, hesitant, before asking, "But what if you don't feel that for someone ? If you don't know what it's like to be in love ?"
The butcher's daughter furrowed her brow slightly. "I think... everyone discovers love in their own way."
"Michèle, there's someone... someone I wonder if I'm in love with," she admitted timidly.
Her friend looked at her with surprise, understanding the true reason behind her questions. "You're talking about Joseph, aren't you ?"
Lily-Rose nodded timidly, feeling a slight blush creep onto her cheeks. "Yes. We've been spending a lot of time together lately. He's been so kind to me, and... and I don't know what to think. I was wondering what you think of him."
A smirk formed on Michèle's lips. "Ah, Joseph... I must admit I don't really appreciate everything he's done in the past. But since you've arrived here, he seems to have changed. He's quieter, more... attentive, I suppose."
She nodded timidly. "Yes. He took my homework when I was absent last week, and he was rather thoughtful."
Michèle seemed to ponder for a moment before asking, "What's going on between you two ?"
She blushed slightly, feeling her friend's curious eyes on her. "Oh, well, nothing really special. We've just... talked a bit, that's all."
Michèle raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really ? Just talked ? Nothing more ? I wouldn't believe you're not noticing the way he looks at you whenever he's around."
"Maybe you're imagining things. Joseph and I, we're just... friends, that's all." Lily-Rose looked away, trying in vain to hide her embarrassment.
She gave her a knowing smile. "Of course. Friends... If you say so. But I can't help but notice how interested he seems in you. Have you two ever kissed ? Because..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Lily-Rose abruptly stood up.
"Oh, look at the time ! I have to go home. Thanks for this conversation, Michèle."
With a smile on her lips, Michèle watched her friend hurry away, wondering what the future held for her and Joseph. Perhaps the magic of Christmas could work its charm and bring them closer together.
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𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐏𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐘
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Montclair Residence, 6:47 PM
The crackling of the fire in the fireplace filled the room with warmth as Lily-Rose sat on the couch, lost in thought. A sketchbook rested on her lap, and she applied herself to drawing with intense concentration.
Her delicate fingers wielded the pencil with agility, tracing the contours of a masculine face with meticulous precision. She strove to capture his essence on paper.
She sketched the lines of the jaw, the curves of the nose, and finally, the distinctive features that made this drawing so unique : an eyepatch covering one eye, leaving the other to shine with a mysterious gleam, and thin lips that seemed to whisper secrets.
As the sketch took shape, she was carried away by her imagination, envisioning the boy in all his complexity. She remembered every detail of his face, every exchanged glance, every word spoken.
Focused on her work, she did not immediately notice her father's arrival in the room. "Lily-Rose, my dear," he called out as he approached her.
Lily-Rose startled slightly, surprised by the interruption. She quickly closed her sketchbook, hastily concealing her drawings.
"Good evening, father," she replied, trying to appear casual.
He handed her a beautiful and elegant red silk dress.
"What is this ? Who is this lovely dress for ?" she asked, her surprise evident in her voice.
Her father offered her an enigmatic smile before replying, "It's for you, my dear. For dinner with Guillaume."
Lily-Rose felt her heart tighten at his response. A wave of panic washed over her as she contemplated the dress.
"Thank you, father," she finally murmured, a forced smile stretching her lips. "The dress is beautiful."
Her father gently patted her shoulder, pride evident in his gaze. "I'm sure you'll be beautiful, my dear."
She took the dress, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. The vibrant color and plunging neckline of the dress instantly shocked her. It was a true woman's dress, yet she was only sixteen.
Once alone in her room, she laid the dress on her bed, her gaze falling on the window overlooking the snowy garden.
The image of Joseph climbing up to her window to suggest eloping on the night of the dinner haunted her, making her heart beat faster. And the idea of escaping with him that evening was becoming more and more captivating.
