GOLDEN NIGHTS IN PARIS

un

"poetry, romance, love, it's what we all stay alive for. the fear of never finding these pure things makes us sweat. we anticipate the moment, we... romanticise it to the point where we think of no romance at all."

eyes shift around the room, stopping on the girl whose always zoned out, she's looking at me, but her eyes are empty, tired, almost seems tragic.

"so, my midterm for you all, it's christmas time. or hanukkah or however you celebrate it. whether it be with familial loved ones, spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends or just friends. i want you to write about it, write about your love, your romance, your fear, your experience."

a hand shoots up

"yes mr. henry?"

"what if we can't find love, like poor old charlie?" masculine laughs break out around the group of boys in the centre as charlie gives a swift punch of the left shoulder to his friend.

"like i said, it's not just about love. it's about your experience." i look about once more and give a soft smile.

"i'll see you all in January."

the class shuffles, ready to leave, as am i. i pack my things and keep a soft eye on the absent minded woman who finally begins her dissent from her chair, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

"did you hear the assignment?" my voice speaks out and she turns around quickly, knowing that i spoke to her.

"yes, mister firth." she gives a small smile before turning away and heading out of the class room. her bag looks heavy and her legs almost wobble under the stress. she disappears from my view.

i finish quickly and make my way around campus, to the parking lot. i see the girl in her car, a fifty-seven chevy bel air. i hear it turn over, but nothing comes of it.

she tiredly rests her head on the steering wheel, small hands gripping to the point her knuckles turn white, inhaling a deep breath. my feet take me to her car door before knocking on the window.

she jumps, looking up and putting a hand over her chest before rolling the window down.

"hello mr. firth." her pained face seems to retreat and a smile appears instead.

i nod back and examine the outside of her car.

"having automobile troubles?" she laughs lightly and slumps in her seat.

"it seems so. not the day to be in a hurry i suppose." her right hand swipes the dark hair from her face and she exhales.

"where are you trying to get to?" my hand rests on her open window and she shifts things from her purse before grabbing something folded out.

"the waterloo train station."

"traveling for break?"

"indeed, headed to 'la ville de paris!'" her freckled arms floated around aimlessly in front of her as a grin spread across her face.

"si jamais vous y arriviez, ça l'est." I reply motioning to the front of her car.

"ah yes, this is true." she chuckles before resting her head on her steering wheel once more.

my mind ponders my possibilities before my mouth seems to speak before i'm ready for it to.

"would you like a ride?"

her head raises as well as her eyebrows with a look of curiosity

"are you sure mr. firth? I really wouldn't want to be a bother." she has a disappointed tone but her face shows anticipation and gratitude, which I cannot deny.

"absolutely. it's on my way." it certainly wasn't but she need not know such a minuscule detail.

she grabbed her keys and practically jumped out of the automobile before reaching into her backseat and grabbing a suitcase barely big enough to hold a weeks worth of clothes.

"not planning to spend too long there?" I infer while she shut the blue door with her hip, taking her train station brochure out from between her white teeth.

"well, yes. I just plan to buy chic clothes." she laughs as we begin to walk over to the black ford sat in my usual spot positioned under a tall pine.

"ah, but of course, what else when in the heart of fashion culture?" I look over and grin at her, to find her grinning at me.

"there's more I want to do, juste rien de plus excitant."

I grab her suitcase and sit it in the backseat before opening her door for her.

"merci." she replies as I close the door for her and mumble "you're welcome madame."

after falling into my seat I once again look over to her bright eyes.

"are you ready?"

"more than ever." she grinned widely, and the car was started.