Lost in madness

23

I stepped out of the taxi, my heart racing with anticipation. The Parisian air was crisp and filled with promise. As I watched the driver unload my luggage, I couldn't help but smile.

"Merci," I said, fumbling with my elementary French as I tipped the driver.

He nodded and drove off, leaving me standing in front of the grand hotel. I took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of freshly baked croissants from a nearby café. This was it. Paris!

But despite my elation, hours passed, and still no sign of Andrew. I paced the luxurious hotel room, checking my phone every few minutes. No messages, no calls. The initial excitement began to wane, replaced by a gnawing worry.

"Where is he?" I whispered to the empty room.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the city, I made a decision. I wouldn't let this ruin my time in the city. I was starving in between, I made my way down the lobby. I dropped by the bar and grabbed something to drink. At a quaint bistro, I struck up a conversation with a group of tourists from Australia.q

"First time in Paris?" A friendly blonde asked, gesturing for me to join them.

I nodded, sliding into a seat. "Yes, I'm Dabe. Just arrived today."

"I'm Sarah," she replied. "These are my friends, Tom and Lisa. We're on a European tour."

We spent the next few hours chatting and laughing, sharing travel stories and recommendations. For a while, I almost forgot about Andrew and the reason I was here.

As night fell, I bid farewell to my new friends and made my way back to the room. The worry crept back in as I entered the empty room. I sprawled across the bed, pulling out my phone to distract myself.

Mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, my heart stopped. There, on my screen, was a photo of Sally standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. The caption read, "Love in Paris ❤️"

My blood ran cold. This couldn't be happening. I felt sick. How could I have been so naive? And apparently foolish.

In a frenzy, I began throwing my belongings into my suitcase. Tears streamed down my face as I zipped it shut. I had to get out of here before I broke down completely.

Just as I reached for the door handle, it swung open. There he was, looking disheveled and exhausted.

"Dabs," he breathed, reaching for me. "I can explain-"

I recoiled from his touch. "Explain what? How you brought your wife to our trip? Do I look that foolish to you?"

Confusion flashed across his face. "Dabe, you've got it all wrong. I-"

"Save it," I spat, trying to push past him. "I saw her post. 'Love in Paris,' you brought her to Paris. This was supposed to be our trip, Andrew, ours. The one time I get you all to myself."

Andrew grabbed my arm gently, his eyes pleading. "Dabe, please. Listen to me. Sally is here for the summit. I had no idea she was here until I landed and saw her at the airport. That's why I'm late. I've been trying to figure out how to handle this situation without bringing it back to you."

I paused, my anger wavering slightly. "Then why didn't you pick up?"

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his voice. "My phone died on the plane. I've been running around trying to find one that works with this damn European outlet."

I wanted to believe him, but the hurt was still raw. "And the Instagram post?"

"You know how Sally is with appearance," he said, a hint of disdain in his voice. "But you're right, this is supposed to be our trip."

I stood there, torn between my anger and the love I felt for him. Part of me wanted to run, to protect myself from further pain. But the part, the part that loved him, the part that had been waiting for this moment for so long, couldn't let go.

"I hate these."

Andrew took a step closer, his voice soft. "I know this isn't an ideal situation. But we're here, in Paris. The city of love. Can we try to make the best of it? Just me and you."

Slowly, I nodded.

Relief washed over his face. He reached out, tentatively cupping my face. "I love you, so much, and again I'm sorry this turned out the way it did."

I squeezed his hand, allowing myself a small smile. "Okay. But you always pick up when I call. Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed, pulling me into an embrace. But at that moment, wrapped in Andrew's arms, I realized this was our reality, stealing little moments of joy amidst the chaos in our lives,

"So," I said, pulling back to look at him. "Where should we start?"

Andrew's eyes lit up. "How about a midnight stroll along the Seine? I hear it's magical this time of night."

Hand in hand, we left the hotel room, stepping into the Parisian night. The air was filled with possibility, and for the second time since I arrived, I felt truly excited about what lay ahead.