#1 The Question (English version)

(For the Spanish version see below)

21st November 2010

It had been a really good day. Thomas had spent his day off watching a film at the cinema situated near the Villette Basin in the north-east of Paris. The movie had not been very interesting; it actually was the typical American thriller without any interest. However, he was glad he could spend the whole day with his girlfriend Chloé. 

They were sharing a meal together in his favorite restaurant near the Stalingrad square. Those were the day he liked the most.

Chloé started sampling her Caesar’s salad and he stared her whilst cutting his steak. He was lucky to have her as a girlfriend.

“Why are you looking at me?” she asked him.

“No, it’s nothing… I was just remembering the first day I saw you.”

“Are saying this again? I guess you had better chances…” she smiled.

“Yes, but it is always the first opinion which tells you all you need to know.”

They smiled each other and continued eating. Three years had been passed since they decided to start a relationship together, and now, Thomas was about to ask her to live together. He would do it at the end of the night.

“You know? I also remember the first time we met. You had a really weird face, you looked absentminded or something like that. Just like the one you have now!”

“Well, I guess there will always be things that never change…”

Thomas still perfectly remembered the first time he saw her. It was during his third year at college and, despite of he fell in love at that moment, he did not ask her to go out until one year later. After that, time had passed and both grew up together. They had to split up while both of them were working overseas but after a year they came back to Paris to stay together.

They finished their meals and afterwards they went to drink a glass of wine. Thomas wanted her to come to his place to spend the night together but she was unable to go with him. The following day she had to take a train as she was going to another city for work. But he did not mind at all. He knew that they would be soon living together.

They went down near the Canal Saint-Martin and finally seat on the quay near the water. Night was calm and despite to be at the end of the autumn, it was not really cold. Thomas was calmly contemplating the smooth water thinking about the most important question of his young life. On the other hand, Chloé was staring at him, she perfectly knew what he was about to request her.

“Are you OK? You look like much more thoughtful than as usual. Do you want me to ask something special?”

“How do you know that…?”

“Because I know you much more than you may think. We’ve been together for more than 3 years. I know exactly what you’re going to ask me.” He was surprised. In fact, that girl every day surprised him in a way or another. She moved closer to him and looked him into the eyes. “Come on, just ask…”

“I was wondering…” He hesitated just one second. “I was wondering if you’d like that we… That we were going to live together!”

She did not answer, she just continued to staring at him into the eyes so he continued talking.

“I know you won’t give me a No. But, if you did it, I would have to accept it and wait for a better chance.”

He moved even closer to her, he was about to kiss her but at the last moment she approached to her ear and she whispered him.

“I’d be mad if I told you No.

”

They could not resist it, and they started kissing each other passionately. They embraced each other until their hearts started to beat at the same rhythm. Thomas felt that they were just one, together.

“I won’t never forget this moment for my entire life Chloé.”

“I won’t either. The sky would have to fall down to forget it…”

***

Thomas was on his way home happily. The Canal Saint-Martin and the whole city of Paris seemed lovelier so he decided to walk home passing by the République square. He was so happy that nothing could disturb him at that moment, even if the time stopped, no one could steal him that feeling...

But suddenly, he witnessed something moving in front of him near the quay of the canal. Two men were likely fighting each other. People were just staying and watching or just ignoring them as it was a dark night: nobody wanted to take part.

Thomas observed the guy that was defending himself. He was about 1m90, brown hair and eyes and he was really well dressed. He did not look like a homeless or something similar seeking a fight drunk. For any reason, the other man wanted to grab something from its hand. Thomas felt that he had to help him.

“You moron! Leave him alone and get away from here! I’ve just called the cops and they will be here in a minute.”

The attacker analyzed him carefully. He was also tall, and he was wearing black raincoat and a hat. Thomas was unable to distinguish his face or any representative characteristic.

“How’s that fucking man? Is he your friend?”

“No, I don’t know him..”

“Get, away, from here!” Thomas dared him showing up his phone in his hand.

“It’s OK. I will leave him alone. I don’t want to have any problems with the cops…”

The strange man went away slowly and Thomas run to help the other to incorporate.

“Are you OK? You should denounce him to the police.”

“It would be useless anyway... You don’t know him. You must leave, otherwise you could be in a danger.”

“I’m not leaving you like this. We must to call an ambulance.”

“You don’t know nothing! You just can’t know! You must leave… Now!

He was not able to say something else. They heard something big approaching, like a horn, and they were suddenly illuminated by a flashlight. An enormous truck was approaching them very fast. It was not unable to stop. They should flee; otherwise it would run over them.

However, they did not have enough time. 

The truck skid, its wheels screeched and the trailer leaped on them. He could not understand, he could not conceive to end his days in that way. He felt pain, panic, suffering, shame all merged together at the same time. Something stung on his arm, but he could not process any other feelings. He did not feel either when the other guy grabbed and pushed him way. He only saw a flashing white light: he was already dead.

The truck overtook the sidewalk, overturning and devastating the whole quay. It eventually fell down into the canal and smashed the water. Silence came back once the waves generated by the impact calmed down.

Police arrived 5 minutes later, but they did not find anybody hurt.