Breathless

It’s beginning to get late in the evening and I check my GPS on my phone to make sure I know how to get back to my apartment. He asks where I’m staying and I say in the St. Denis area.  He says he’ll walk me to my apartment because it really is near by.  It’s been a busy day and the streets of Paris have exhausted me and confused me enough and I’ve gotten turned around way too many times today in these narrow alleyways, I take him up on the offer.

Where it took me an hour to get to Notre Dame that morning, it only was a few blocks from my apartment and over the bridge.  It was so easy to get to when he took me back.  I chuckled to myself. I had made things so difficult.  Walking through the now bustling district of St. Denis with the outdoor cafes and coffee shops, we pass the Lebanese restaurant and the Sushi restaurant to come to my door.  He says, “It’s been a pleasure, my lady”, as he takes my hand and kisses it gently “I hope I can see you tomorrow, I don’t have to work for the next few days and I would consider it an honor to spend the time with you, I would love to show you Paris. Would you like that? Can I pick you up in the morning?” I smile and say, “I would love it” (are you kidding?  I’m not turning this down!)  He says, “Come here”, as he guides me to the first step to my apartment.  I look at him cautiously.  He tells me to step up. I do, now I stand a little taller, he then holds me firmly at my waist and gently kisses me goodnight. “Bonsoir ma chérie, à demain”, then turns around to leave, leaving me totally breathless.

• Feature Photo: St. Denis District, Paris, France. April 2016. Photography by Candace Stauber