A Day in Paris

Two sisters enjoy a perfect miniature adventure in Paris. Years later, one sister returns to Paris to cope with the loss of the other sister.

                Jess and her sister had been waiting ever so patiently. From the time they had left the house that morning, they had been perfectly patient as it was possible to be.  As they waited for their Father to load their navy sedan with their luggage in its compact trunk. As they sat through three traffic jams, or Staus, as their Mother called them. Most unbearable, though, was waiting in an un-air-conditioned car in the middle of summer to get through customs to cross the German border into France. One by one cars would pull up to border gates, handing over passports and other paperwork needed to get through. Random cars were chosen and their trunks searched. When it was Jess’s family’s turn, they luckily passed right through without a whole car search. When they finally did make it to Paris, the girls found themselves alone in their hotel room as their Mother napped in the next room over. Yes, they had been very patient all day long.

Their hotel was in the middle of the theater district. It was an old building with a newly renovated interior, decorated in tea room fashion, with long, flowing curtains, floral printed tapestries on the walls, and plush carpets. There were sterling silver serving plates and bowls scattered about the lobby with miniature pastries, dried fruits and handcrafted chocolates for guests.  It was comfortable and cozy in all the right ways.  When Jess looked out the windows of their hotel room, it was just as she’d imagined it. Women and men, all dressed fashionably, in vibrant colors and expensive looking shoes. Even the children of Paris were fashionable. They were miniature versions of their parents. Jess admired the people from her window, as well as the vast number of open air cafes and restaurants. She felt like she had been waiting her whole life to get here. To Paris. She was meant to be here. She just knew it.

                Except now she was stuck waiting in a hotel room for her Mother to wake from her nap. Her Father had meetings to attend and wouldn’t be back until dinnertime. Jess turned to her sister, who was sprawled out on their hotel bed, reading the latest edition of Seventeen Magazine.

                “Katie, let’s go sight-seeing while Mom sleeps!” She tore the magazine out of Katie’s hands, and pulled her up from the bed.

Katie gave a laugh, and said, “Jess, we don’t even know where we’re going! What if we get lost and can’t find our way back before Mom gets up?” It was 1995, and teenage girls didn’t have cell phones.

“No! We won’t get lost, I promise. I know Paris! I will get us back safely. I promise, Katie!” Jess smiled excitedly, as she threw on her black Maryjanes and her jean jacket her Aunt had bought her from the Gap. She knew it wouldn’t take much to convince Katie to tag along. They were one year apart, Katie the older, conservative sister. Jess, the more daring and adventurous one. Katie slipped into her white Keds and her matching Gap jean jacket.

“Ok, but I’m trusting you. I don’t want to get in trouble!” Katie said, as she gently placed her purse over her shoulder. Jess threw a few Francs in the front pocket of her pants and grabbed the hotel key card.

“Come on!” She yanked the door open, and they ran down the hall together to the bank of elevators.

As soon as they stepped outside, Jess grabbed Katie’s hand and pulled her in the direction she wanted to head. She knew exactly where she wanted to go. She was walking so fast through the crowded narrow sidewalks, she was nearly running. Katie could barely keep up. They finally reached a large, steep set of stone stairs. They were close, she could feel it. “Almost there!”

“Where?” Katie asked. “Where are you taking us?”

“You’ll see! Come on!” Jess exclaimed.

Katie looked up and saw a beautiful building that sat atop a grassy hill. There were people sitting all around it and on a grassy lawn in front, gazing down at them it seemed. It was the Sacre-Coeur, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, the highest point in the city. It was a beautiful old white building, made of travertine stone and always white despite its age and exposure to weather.

They ran up to the top of the steps, to the base of the Basilica, and turned around to take in the view of the city. It was the most beautiful city in the world, Jess thought to herself.

“Jess, it’s amazing!” Katie took Jess’s hand and smiled, as she took in the view herself. “It really is the beautiful city I’ve ever seen.” Jess was please, but this wasn’t their final stop.

“I knew you’d love it here, just as much as I do! Come on, I have one more stop, then we can come back here and hang out for awhile until dinner.” Not letting go of Katie’s hand, she started to the back of the Sacre-Couer and turned left. It was as if they’d stepped back in time. Peddlers, merchants, and artists lined the small streets near the Basilica, some asking the girls to stop for a painting. Jess just smiled but kept walking. She turned left again and they were heading down another narrow street and she stopped in front of a small creparie. It had been there for years, and you could tell, because the ordering window was made of wood that was beautifully aged. She ordered two crepes with chocolate and a dash of orange liquor. They turned to walk back to the grass lawn in front of the Sacre-Coeur to enjoy their crepes.

      ______________

It was midnight. She didn’t know how she’d found it, but she did. So many years had passed since she’d last been here. So many sad, lonely years, some having come and gone with Jess barely even noticing. Her sister’s death had left her empty, and even 15 years later she couldn’t fill the hole in her heart. The pain was unbearable. Yet here she was, atop the most beautiful city she once loved. Except Katie wasn’t here with her. She had no tears left.

As late as it was, there were still people sitting in the grass, enjoying the view. Lovers, friends, loners, old, young �" the Sacre-Coeur turned no one down. She slumped down in the grass and thought of the last time she was here. She and Katie had eaten crepes with chocolate and orange liquor. They had snuck away on a little adventure together. It was one of the happiest days of her life.

She was lost in her thoughts when she noticed a woman sitting to her left. She had her hands clasped around a necklace and was crying quietly. Jess stood up and walked over to the woman. The crying woman looked up and Jess touched her own necklace with her palm and then placed her hand over her heart. The woman returned the gesture with a sad smile. Jess sat down next to the crying woman and took her hand in her own. And they sat atop the hill in silence.

Author's Note

Please feel free to share you're thoughts on how I can improve this short story.