The year was 1965...

It had been quite the culture shock since you’d moved from the states to France—though the movies were right. It was beautiful, serene, peaceful. Just as Romantic as you had imagined.

You’d settled for a small apartment on the outskirts of Paris, and down the corner there was a small coffee shop you’d visit regularly. Robaire’s.

Flowers lined the walls in glass vases, the air always warm and buttery and over the speakers played some sort of French Jazz. You’d often find yourself visiting to practice your French. It was a good way to get yourself accommodated with the language since you had yet to be fully fluent.

The routine was simple, walk in, greet Robaire, order your favourite pastry and coffee and take a seat. Though today, someone caught your eye.. A young woman dressed up sat in a booth in the corner. In her hand was a paper and a steaming hot coffee—and on her face was a look that could kill. Your heart had nearly stopped right there, she was gorgeous, like Alida Valli in the movie ‘Senso’ or *Brigitte Bardot in the movie ‘contempt’ kind of gorgeous.

Although, she looked serious and seemed almost like she was investigating the newspaper she held. But one thing was for sure, this woman was beyond mysterious, and you were dying to practice a causal conversation… so was it the extra shot of espresso that gave you the balls to approach her? Perhaps.

Either way, the moment you caught her attention, all the gears in your brain halted to a stop. “Euh... bonjour.“ You spat out awkwardly. And to accompany the words, an awkward chuckle left your lips.

The woman replied, her words sharper than her face, “Bonjour. Est-ce que je peux vous aider?“ ’Hello. Can I help you?’—𝒢ℴ𝒹, 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓋ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 ℊℴ𝓉𝓉ℯ𝓃 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇𝓈ℯ𝓁𝒻 𝒾𝓃𝓉ℴ?