Paris.
It's an incredible city.
Full of life, love, and poetry.
And the cafes? Best in the world.
Walking down the street, I was on my way to my personal favourite of these cafes,
Le Café Laurent.
The hustle and bustle was usual for the beginning of the year. People crowded the streets, locals and tourists alike. With me, I carried nothing but my messenger bag,
In it, was my laptop and everything to do with my book, which I intended to finish within the next few weeks.
I paused for a moment, turning towards the Eiffel Tower. It was only my second day in Paris, and I catch my gaze wandering to the magnificent feat of engineering regularly.
But as I was admiring the city, I felt a bump, and then a tug.
I look down, and my bag is missing.
In the crowd, I catch a glimpse of a figure running away.
"Stop! Someone stop him!" I shout aimlessly.
I wasn't going to let them get away with my work.
With my heart.
So I decided I'd take justice into my own hands.
Without a second thought, I sprinted after him.
He was a quick one, and all these pedestrians were only slowing me down.
I was only managing to keep up by following the commotion he caused pushing people out of the way.
My luck, it begins to rain out of nowhere. Coming down in buckets, soaking me as I run.
The crowd parts,
And I watch the thief turn into an alley.
I follow suit, and see they've trapped themselves at a dead end.
"You're trapped, give up, and maybe I won't tell the police about this little escapade,"
I shout, out of breath.
The thief faces the wall away from me, unmoving.
"faites le tomber comme si c'etait chaud!"
I shout in french, as they continue to ignore me.
I step forward, and they turn, lowering a hood.
It's a girl.
Blue eyed, and beautiful.
The rain falling on her cheeks,
Running down them as if she were crying.
And to my shock, it wasn't just any girl.
The girl of my dreams. It was her.
I start to speak, but she turned away again. Stepping towards the wall at the end of the alley.
I break into a run.
And like a ghost in the wind,
She passes right through the wall.
I slip and fall on a newly formed puddle,
My head slams into concrete.
And my vision goes black.
Crickets chirping. A fire crackling.
My eyes open. And I look up to the stars.
Shining brighter than ever. I see the tops of trees, towering above the landscape.
I'm on my back, laying in the grass.
Somehow, I'm in a forest.
I sit up, my head feeling groggy, and continue to look around.
Nearby, is a fire. It's warm glow resounding throughout the forest.
I stand, and walk nearer to the fire.
Sitting beside it, tending to it, is the girl.
The light bouncing off her eyes,
Even causing her hair to glow.
I try to open my mouth and speak,
But nothing can be heard.
My voice refuses to cooperate.
She looks up and sees me, and she looks shocked.
She stands up, backing away slowly.
I reach out, and try to tell her it's okay,
That it's just me.
But my voice fails me.
She turns,
And runs.
From the monster she thinks I've become.
I shake my head,
And run after her.
She's fast, and I try to keep up.
But my head still spins, I'm disoriented,
And the farther I get from the fire,
The darker the landscape becomes.
I twist and turn through the trees, following the sound of her footsteps.
But the sound grows less and less,
And I trip on a branch,
Falling once again,
Into the abyss.
I open my eyes,
And I'm greeted by nothing. No fire, no trees, no city.
Just an emotionless void.
I rub my eyes, wishing my head would clear.
And surprisingly, it does.
I hear footsteps and look up.
An old man approaches me,
He's tall, with a thin grey beard, and a white cloak.
"Where am I," I ask him, my voice finally returning to me.
He responds with a kind voice,
"Somewhere, and nowhere. The end, and the beginning. To put it simply, you couldn't understand it if I told you."
I shook my head, trying to grasp his words.
"What's going on anyways? What is all this?"
I ask, confused.
He smiles and steps closer,
"It is a lesson of sorts, a reminder, and an encouragement."
"I don't understand old man. I started in one place, lost my bag, saw... her. And then started dimension hopping."
"I can't say much, alas, that isn't my purpose. But I can offer you wisdom, about her. Stop chasing her. Can't you see, it's accomplishing nothing?"
I look up and meet his gaze,
"You don't understand!" I shout,
"What else am I supposed to do?
She's everything to me, and-"
"And you love her," he interjects.
He steps forward, and brings his hand up to my heart.
Tears brim in his eyes.
"More than anyone else, I understand."
He steps back, lowering his hand.
"I'm afraid my time runs short. But I offer you this.
Let go of the worry in your mind,
And hold on to the hope that's in your heart.
Your souls will meet again someday."
I start to cry, listening to his words.
And as the tears cloud my vision,
So does the darkness once more.
And right before I slip into unconsciousness,
I hear,
"Have patience,
My boy.
Everything will be okay."
