Life in the streets gradually began to awaken after a peaceful, full-moon night. Michele, on his usual path to the bistro, gathered hope and courage step by step. He was sure he would overcome all his hesitations and fears this time and risk that seemingly small but life-changing step.

Arriving at his destination, he paused for a moment and stared at the bistro, which was already half full. Many drank their morning coffee here on the go before heading to work, including Amélie.

Ah, yes, Amélie! He became acquainted with Amélie around half a year ago, when she started working around the corner at a bookstore and often drank her coffee there every morning. He instantly fell in love with her. No, that happened about four months later when both, by chance, were sitting together at a table since all the other tables were occupied. Relatively open, she talked about the loss of her parents. Then suddenly, she appeared in front of his eyes, so fragile, like an earthly angel, and he fell in love with her head over heels at that moment. Ever since he tried to confess, deep in the soul-moving love, every morning.

Michele reached for the door handle, took a deep breath, and entered; from the radio came the romantic sounds from the song “Tu es partout” sung by Edith Piaf; he seated himself in his place, the place he always sat in the corner in front of the window, from there he could observe the whole space and who entered and exited. Brigitte walked toward him, balancing a tray on her right hand and pinching a newspaper under her left elbow. She served him his double Cappuccino and a Croissant on a plate, accompanied by a small bowl filled with raspberry jam. Lastly, she laid the newspaper on the table. Michele was her loyal customer and didn’t need to make an order; she knew what he wanted for breakfast and that he reluctantly replaced it with something else.

«Good morning, my dear. Well, how are you doing? How is it going? Well, will you finally dare to confess to your sweetheart today? For two months, you have been trying it every morning. If it doesn’t work again today and you’ve given up hope, I know someone who could arrange a meeting. »

«Thank you, Brigitte, but I think your cousin and I wouldn’t make a smashing dream couple. I, with my introverted character, and she, with her endless calm nature, would someday be isolated from any social life. »

«You are kind of overreacting. What do you actually mean by an endless, calm nature? Do you find her boring? »

«Boring … not boring, just calm. I need a woman who is internally stirring me up and depriving my sleep, inciting me to do crazy things, which I usually never would dare to do.»

Brigitte looked askance at him. «This doesn’t sound to me at all like love, but rather a completely ominous obsession. Anyway, if you change your mind, let me know.» She turned around and let him have his breakfast quietly.

Michele spread some jam on his Croissant and took a great bite. While he was chewing, he cast an eye over the space. Some sat alone, absorbed in their newspaper, drinking coffee. Couples sitting close together smirkingly whispered something to each other’s ears. Before he took a sip from the Cappuccino, he looked at his watch. It was 9:30, and the bookshop where she worked had already opened half an hour ago; the possibility that she would come drifted. Disappointment and hopelessness drilled deep inside him, and the bite of the Croissant lay heavily in his stomach. The bistro gradually emptied, and with a heavy heart, he got ready to go. Seated, he rummaged in his pocket for money to pay the bill.

Brigitte, who remained halted in her work, watched him pitifully and wondered. He had confessed to being a contained person and wondered how he could possibly conquer a woman like Amélie, who burst with life and was looking for adventure. Her cousin Madeleine was undoubtedly the better option for him. Together, they would create a consistent, bonded, consciously responsible couple. These characteristics particularly distinguish Madeleine in all her relationships, be they with relatives, friends, or lovers. But no, for Michele, she was too boring, ah, no, endless calm, he said. It is actually the same; it was just expressed more kindly. Some men are blockheaded, making their lives unnecessarily difficult, Brigitte contemplated grumpily. The squawk of a chair ripped her out of her thoughts, and a disheartened Michele stood up, put on his jacket, and walked up toward the counter and her. At that instant, as he reached her, a happy, loud Amélie suddenly wafted in.

«A wonderful, good morning, dear people. » She wished into the round.

Michele’s face turned red as a beetroot and trembled visibly with excitement. He drooled over Amélie, who joined them at the counter. With difficulty, he almost managed to bring a good morning over his lips.

«Good morning, sweetheart. You are very late today. Or aren’t you working today?» Asked a curious Brigitte.

«Today and forever.» Amélie winked at Brigitte and threw a rushed glance at Michele, who swallowed hard. He already sensed that the news wouldn’t delight him. However, Brigitte wanted to know more about it.

«What exactly do you mean?»

«I got married yesterday afternoon.»

Michele felt his heart sink to the ground and shatter into a thousand pieces.

«Stop joking, » responded Brigitte, «don’t tell me you married that, Frank. You know each other for only how long, three weeks?»

«Four weeks, but we both know that we are the right person for each other. »

Frank, a businessman from Paris, had been on a business trip to Toulouse for a few weeks. In the late afternoon, he entered the bookshop where Amélie worked, searching for Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Amélie, at first sight of him, was already ignited with love, helped him find the desired book, and offered to show him the town in the evening, since it was his first time in Toulouse. During that late evening, over a glass of wine, they arranged to meet again, so one thing led to another.

Michele soon found out about these meetings. Coincidentally, he saw both for the first time on a romantic evening, entwined, strolling along the River Garonne towards the sunset, and often in the Bistro. Seeing them for the first time, his heart constricted; he thought it was due to the cold, and with that excuse, he continued to cling to his burning hope of confessing his love. This, indeed, was a temporary affair; soon, this businessman would return to Paris, he judged. Yet, with such a development, Michele had never really expected it to happen in life.

«And how precisely are your future plans? » Asked Brigitte.

«I have quit my job and will go with Frank to Paris. For that reason, we got married. We didn’t want a long-distance relationship, so we went all the way. »

«Well, I guess this means you will leave us, and we won’t see each other again, since you will have a great life in a metropolitan city. » Sulked, Brigitte.

«We plan to hold a belated wedding celebration in Paris. Of course, I will send you an invitation to all loyal customers of this Bistro; you are all cordially invited. In the last months, we spent almost every morning together, and as time passed, we grew into a little family. Certainly, I will invite you all. Ah, please, Brigitte, prepare two coffees to go. Frank and I are preparing for my move, and everything must be ready in a week. »

«So quickly. » It slipped out of Michele.

«His business is urgent, and nothing here is holding me back. As you know, my parents have died, and my only sister is living in Germany. »

«Then I wish you all luck on this earth from the bottom of my heart. » He stuttered out. Every single word that came out of his mouth felt like a torment.

«Thank you, Michele. I also wish you all well for the future. I hope you find the woman who will make you truly happy, like Frank made me happy. »

Brigitte handed her the ordered coffees, and as Amélie flounced in, she vanished. Michele stared at her like a drowned rat.

«Well, my friend, what do you intend to do? In your place, I wouldn’t wait so long. You know the consequences. Shall I arrange a meetup with my cousin, or do you still insist on your stiff beliefs? »

«Tomorrow, Brigitte, tomorrow I will let you know. » Michele answered with a sigh, paid, and left the Bistro.

©2025, Vasiliki Papadopoulou