Narrator: Kite
Photo: Tachibana
I originally thought that this trip to France would be lonely and normal. This is my travel dream that I have always sketched in my memo but has not yet sketched the colors, to set foot alone in a foreign land, to explore the romance and art in the painting. Before I set off, I rehearsed the walk on the banks of the Seine countless times in my mind, so when the tires of the plane kissed the runway roughly, I told myself that the abruptness would be the main theme of the journey.
On the streets of Paris, crowds are pouring out. I was bathed in the orange street lamps, through the aroma of coffee and the sound of warmth. On a street corner, a street performer plays an accordion, plunging countless visitors into nostalgic melodies.
I chose to sit down by the Seine, let the breeze accompany the silence of the river, and enjoy the beautiful veins of the city with me. I watched the lovers snuggle on the bridge, and they seemed to exude the best chapter of their lives in the mist of the French evening breeze. My gaze followed their backs as they drifted away, but there was a nameless loneliness in my heart.
Yes, I guess, this may be the fate of travel - to be lost and return in a foreign country, to appreciate the happiness of others but to find your own sincerity. I was immersed in this thought until he appeared, like a gust of wind disrupting my thoughts.
He, dressed in a simple robe, held an old-looking book in his hand, and his eyes met me in the crowd. Probably choosing to stop in this quiet corner as well, he smiled at me and sat down next to me.
"A good book?" I tentatively led the conversation, hiding my lonely eyes in the night.
"Good stories are always unintentionally opened. He replied, in a gentle voice and with a twinkle like a star in his eyes.
We talked happily until the initial restraint turned into heartfelt laughter. His name is Michelle, and he is a young painter with a delicate observation of the world and an infinite vision of the future. And at this moment, under the night sky of Europe, it is no longer just my loneliness, but the warmth of the encounter seems to give this trip a new meaning.
Michelle, the man who is five years younger than me. He has the soul of an artist and the passion of young blood, while I have the heart of a traveler who is curious about the world but slightly cautious. Our first meeting, right in front of one of Paris' most iconic landmarks, the Louvre, was a coincidence that I saw as a delicate arrangement of fate.
I was standing in front of the glass pyramid of the Louvre, trying to capture the passage of time through the transparent structure. My camera was busy, recording the play of light and shadows until a soft beam of light surrounded a shadow and plunged into my field of vision.
Turning around, I saw Michel, who speaks English with a French romantic accent, just in time to explain to a group of tourists who share the same passion for art. That passion for art, which spread through his words, caught my attention.
When the tourists dispersed, he turned to me, looked me directly with those warm and bright eyes, and lightly lifted his lips: "Look at your attentive appearance, I guess you are also an art lover." ”
A smile spread across my face, and I nodded in response and introduced myself. Michelle soon showed his enthusiasm like no other. He is different from me, he is full of courage and vitality from youth, he will express his own unique opinions on unique art issues, and that confidence and charm fascinate me.
We began to chat on the stairs in front of the Louvre, from art to history, from music to film, one topic after another, spinning into attractive light and shadow. He told me that he dreamed of one day being able to talk to the world with his paintings, and I, infected by his dreams and passions, shared my experiences and stories about travel.
At that moment, standing at the crossroads of world history and culture, a chance encounter with Michelle made me feel an unprecedented emotion in my heart. His smile was full of confidence and enthusiasm, and the vigorous vitality surprised me and fascinated me deeply. This strange spark inadvertently ignited the hidden desire behind my travels - to find the miracle of life.
Time, in the company of Michel, is like a well-rehearsed symphony, playing for us in every corner of Paris. Our heartbeats follow the rhythm of the city, and every encounter is like a beautiful coincidence arranged by God. In his unique way, Michelle showed me an unknown side of the city, with the warm light guiding us every step of the way.
Leaning on the railing of the Place des Artistes in Montmartre and gazing out over the shimmering panorama of Paris, Michel depicts the bustling streets beneath his feet and the neatly lined rooftops in the distance in his tender language, like a poet. In the magnificent gardens of the Palace of Versailles, we walked among the manicured hedges, his fingers touching the petals as if to show me the wonders of life.
Every day is filled with freshness and discovery, and we share bits and pieces of life with each other, from stories from the past to everyday trivialities, and every line of dialogue seems to weave a closer bond into our relationship. Michelle's laughter and his contagious enthusiasm were my biggest takeaways in Paris.
But as the date of return approached, a heavy emotion crept up in my heart. The uncertainty of the future begins to cast a shadow over this impromptu love song, and we all know that every beautiful moment can become a countdown to goodbye. The light of the city is becoming more and more brilliant and distant.
At night, when the lights of the Eiffel Tower twinkled in the night sky, Michelle hugged me tightly in her arms. His breath was in my ear, and he whispered, "No matter where the future takes us, the memories of this time will become my treasure forever." I couldn't contain the throbbing in my heart, holding his hand tightly, but I didn't know how to respond. The tacit understanding between us seems to have suddenly lost our words and become silent.
At that moment, I deeply felt the interweaving of encounters and separations, and the tests they put on the soul. To stay or to leave, to follow my passion or to return to real life? I wander at this meeting point, and Paris, the place where I felt so much joy and inspiration, now overwhelms me.
The wind gently blows across the Eiffel Tower, spreading the silence of the night and the soft starlight throughout Paris. I stood under the protection of this iron giant, my heart full of turmoil, hesitation and anticipation intertwined in my chest. Tomorrow, I will leave for another country, to live without Michelle. During this time, Paris gave me too many precious memories and ruthlessly asked them back. I gazed into Michelle's eyes, looking for a dream that we would still have together tomorrow.
Just as this long, short period of possession was coming to an end, Michelle pulled a bottle of red wine out of his pocket, his hands trembling, and I could feel his nervousness. In the starlight, he poured me a full glass, and then took a small sip of it to himself, a sip of wine to muster courage.
I thought he would hand me a letter saying goodbye and maybe adding a "keep in touch". But Michelle did far more than I expected. He took a deep breath, and then under the dazzling lights of the tower, he said aloud: "No matter how far away, I am willing to cross it." I will not allow our story to end here, and I will continue to write it with you. ”
My heart was pounding, was it true? Such a message, full of cinematic romance, I could hardly believe it. However, in Michelle's determined eyes, I found the answer. My tears, silently falling, were touched by this sudden and affectionate commitment, and a hopeful release for the future.
"So, are you willing to wait for me, no matter how long it takes, no matter how hard it is?" he asked, his eyes glinting with antiquity.
"I do. I replied that these three simple words carried the beginning of a new world. We stood in our arms, the wine swaying gently in our glasses, as if filled with the possibilities of the future.
Under the starlight, the tower has become a witness to our love. At that moment, the night sky of Paris was wider than ever, and the road ahead, although unknown, we chose to go down together. The wind, carrying our vows through the night sky, the stars bear witness to us, and our story, in this sleepless night, has just begun.