The morning light streamed through the hotel curtains, waking me before the alarm could. I lay in bed for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, trying to muster the energy to face the day. Paris, the city I’d always dreamed of visiting, was just outside those walls, but now that I was here, all I felt was the weight of everything I’d left behind.
I got up and dressed quickly, throwing on a sweater and jeans. There was no sense in wasting the day, so I grabbed my bag and headed out. The fresh air greeted me as I stepped onto the bustling street, full of people who seemed to know exactly where they were going. I, on the other hand, had no clue.
As I walked down the street, I tried to take in the sights. The buildings were elegant and old, each one telling its own story. Cafes lined the sidewalks, with people sipping coffee and chatting in rapid French. I felt a pang of envy for their ease, their confidence in a city that still felt foreign to me.
I stopped at a small bakery, the scent of fresh bread too tempting to resist. The woman behind the counter greeted me with a warm smile, but as soon as she started speaking, I was lost. Her words were a blur of sounds, and I could only nod, hoping she wasn’t asking me anything important.
“Un croissant, s’il vous plait,” I managed to say, the phrase I’d practiced a dozen times. She handed me the croissant with a smile, and I paid quickly, grateful to escape without further confusion.
As I continued to wander the streets, the language barrier became more apparent. Signs were in French, conversations around me were in French, even the menu at a cafe I stopped at was in French. Does anyone even speak English in this goddamn city? I felt like an outsider, a stranger in a city that was supposed to be my fresh start.
It wasn’t long before I found myself in front of the Eiffel Tower. The sight of it took my breath away, its iron latticework rising against the blue sky. I stood there for a moment, just taking it in, before deciding to find a spot to sit and gather my thoughts.
I found a bench nearby and sat down, nibbling on my croissant as I watched the crowds pass by. Despite the beauty around me, I felt a deep sense of loneliness. Paris was everything I’d imagined, but without someone to share it with, it felt empty.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a voice said beside me, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked up to see a young woman with dark, curly hair and a friendly smile. She held a camera in one hand, clearly a tourist like me.
“Yes, it’s amazing,” I replied, relieved to hear someone speaking English.
“You’re not from here, are you?” she asked, sitting down next to me.
“No, I’m from the States. I just got here yesterday, actually.”
“Ah, that explains the look on your face,” she said with a laugh. “I’m Kate, by the way. From the U. S.”
“No way… I’m Nora from the U. S. as well,” I said, shaking her hand with a smile.
“Wow, I call that fate! Nice to meet you, Nora. Paris can be a bit overwhelming at first, can’t it?”
I nodded, feeling a bit better just talking to someone who understood. “Yeah, I’m struggling with the language mostly. It’s hard to get by when you can’t understand anything.”
Kate smiled sympathetically. “I know the feeling. I’ve been here two weeks, and I’m still figuring things out. But don’t worry, it gets easier. And hey, you’ve already managed to order a croissant, so you’re off to a good start.”
I laughed, the tension in my chest easing slightly. “Thanks. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time.”
“That’s the best way to do it,” Kate said. “And hey, if you ever want someone to explore the city with, I’m your girl. It’s always more fun with a friend.”
I looked at her, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe Paris wouldn’t be so lonely after all. “I’d like that,” I said, smiling back at her.
“Great! How about we start now? There’s this little cafe I found the other day, and they have the best coffee. Want to check it out?”
“Sure, why not?” I said, standing up with her.
“So what brought you to Paris, Nora? Work? Or just vacation?” she asked as we both made our way to the cafe she spoke of.
“I intend to live here. I’ve always envisioned what it’s like to live in Paris, so here I am,” I said. That wasn’t entirely a lie, though circumstances had a huge role to play. But I only just met her-I can’t start spilling my entire problem to her.
“That must really be a tough decision to make, leaving a very familiar surrounding for a place where you can’t even speak the language. Girl… I envy your courage.”
I let out rolls of laughter at her statement. How I wish courage was what drove me here.
We got to the cafe and ordered coffee, and she was totally right about it-it was so nice.
“This is really nice,” I said as we both sat down to enjoy the coffee.
“I know, right?” she said, smiling back at me as she took the camera off her neck. “Here, I should take a picture of you to remind you of your first time drinking coffee in Paris.”
I laughed at her statement. “That’s totally unnecessary, Kate.”
“Well, if you won’t strike a pose, I’ll just take it when you aren’t watching, so you better stay alert,” she said.
You know those girls in college that one is always jealous of and wants to be? Well, that’s Kate. She flings her hands while talking, flings her hair at every interval, and even laughs with class. She’s so thin, and one would wonder if she eats at all.
Everything about her screams, *I don’t give a fuck about you or your opinion,* yet she’s so kind and friendly.
“So what brings you to Paris, Kate?” I asked.
“I like trying out new food and seeing new places. Since I’m so young without responsibility yet, I intend on seeing as much of the world as I can.”
“So you won’t be here for long, then?”
“I’m not certain about that yet,” she said. I nodded at her response and went back to drinking my coffee.
Next thing I knew was the flash of a camera on my face.
“Tada! Told you I’d get a picture,” she said, laughing so hard. “You’ve got coffee around your lips.”
“Let me see that,” I said, pulling the photo she just printed from her hand.
My face was expressionless with coffee milk around my lips. It was weird and funny at the same time. I should have just posed when she asked me to. Her playfulness reminds me of Jessica.
The day went by swiftly, just walking the streets of Paris. She joined me to go get a new SIM card as well, and soon it was getting late.
I bid her farewell as I made my way to my hotel. As I walked away from her, I felt a flicker of hope for the first time since I’d arrived. Paris might be full of challenges, but with a friend like Kate by my side, maybe I could start to see it as the fresh start it was meant to be.