#6 The Wall (English Version)

(For the Spanish version see below)

Thomas lighted a cigarette and took a long puff. Smoking helped him to calm down when he was anxious. He still had ten minutes before she arrived. He grabbed from his cell phone from his pocket and took a look to her message. After reading it for the thousandth time, he took a long breath and stayed watching the smoke disappearing in the dark sky of Paris. It was a cold day and was starting to rain, however he thought, that in those moments, the city was shinier than ever.

The Moulin Rouge was gleaming at his back and while hundreds of tourists were taking pictures and selfies, he was just smiling: he had planned that night in detail. He knew perfectly what he should do and nothing could go wrong. He indeed had a chance to demonstrate his feelings again to Chloé and take her back forever. He knew her a lot and in consequence, he had already decided what to do that night. As always, he enjoyed to surprise her and this time he could not fail. He would not fail.

Fifteen minutes later Chloé was late as she used to be. He finished his cigarette and he threw the fag-end away. Thomas started to think that she would not come and in his mind he was afraid that in the last minute she had canceled the meeting. He tried to find her in the middle of the crowd and finally he saw her. She was as stunning as he remembered her: she was wearing a red coat with a black hat. Her curly blond hair was waving with the wind. As soon as he saw her she smiled, that made him to stay petrified. He believed that he was completely ready for their meeting, but in that moment he realized that he did not know what to do or say her.

As she was walking towards him his heart beat faster and faster. He soon saw that she was crying in silence. He tried to approach her but he could not move:  she was in front of him. Her green eyes were filled of tears and when he look into them he realized that she needed to meet him during all those 6 years.

“Chloé, I’m…”

Despite he tried to talk to her he was not able to say anything else. Chloé slapped him and immediately after she hugged him. Thomas behaved like a robot and took her into his arms as he kissed her in her cheek. Some seconds later, they separate. Thomas turned red.

“I still don’t believe it Thomas. I don’t know but I still think that it’s a dream you’re here. How long has it been: 6 years? You look like the last time I saw you…”

Thomas stared at her. He felt how her eyes were shining: she was telling the truth and was happy to see him again after so many years. In spite of that, he still was paralyzed without being able to articulate a sentence: he was in fact hopelessly in love.

“Come on Thomas. You’re not going to remain in silence. You haven’t been back for nothing. I’m sure you have a lot of things to explain.”

Chloé was trying to remain clam. She spoke with an intermittent and melancholy voice. If the whole situation was enough difficult for him, he could not imagine how it was being for her.

“I’m sorry… It has been a while since I left and I think that I was completely shocked.”

“So, don’t let me wait! Let’s move, I’m starting to freeze.”

“Yes, of course. I have reserved a table in a restaurant at the end of the street. Would you like to come with me? I think that we will be more comfortable if we speak whilst taking a glass of wine.”

Both started to walk towards the Rue Lepic. That street started in the Blanche square where the Moulin Rouge was and went up into the heart of Montmartre district. There were a lot of restaurants and cafés and Thomas enjoyed getting lost in the middle of those streets. In somehow, the Montmartre district was a small town inside the city of Paris.

They started to talk about trivial things. Chloé ask him how was his job going, if his family and friends were alright and finally if he still had his old apartment. Thomas thought that it was a stupid conversation. In other times they understood each other only exchanging looks. Now, they look like two completely strangers meeting for the first time. However, talking to her again made feel him better and was gaining confidence in him again.

After 5 minutes walking they reached the restaurant. It was not the first time they were in that place. Thomas remembered with all details that Chloé loved that place. That is why he had not hesitated to choose it.

“I remember the first time we came here. It was one of the first days we started to meet alone.”

“So you remember it?”

“How could I forget it? You know I have a good memory…”

The waiter arrived and Thomas asked for a red wine. It would be good for both.

“So how is it going your back to reality?” Chloé asked him whilst they started eating.

“Well, at the beginning it was a bit difficult. Even if a month has gone, it is still difficult for me to adapt to my new situation. But I believe it’s going better those days.”

“I understand. It cannot be easy to come back to your old life when you have been 6 years gone.” Thomas was starting to think whether if Chloé was sarcastic or not. He doubted a second but he knew that Chloé was not like this. “Don’t worry Thomas. I’m serious. I asked myself so many times what I did wrong to you when you disappeared.”

“I’m so sorry Chloé. You cannot imagine how bad I feel. It wasn’t my intention to hurt you. You know I was in love, but…”

“And…? I’m still waiting for an answer. I need to know what you have been doing all those 6 years. Mathieu told me that you met and talked him and you were amnesiac or you had a memory loss. But I don’t know, I had faith you could explain to me as I was your girlfriend.”

Chloé was staring at him with her green eyes. Thomas choked with the food. He was burdened for the question, but he could not avoid answering her. He must find explanations to his mental block whether he wanted to get her back.

“I don’t know Chloé…  I have so many memory lapses that I’m starting to believe that I still live in that day of 2010. I remember all the details of that night. It was the most important of my life: how could I forget it? We had to go to life together and afterwards I found myself alone trying to justify my behavior without remembering anything.”

“That doesn’t help me Thomas. You know I still appreciate you. I loved you so much and I’m sure your family had already explained you what happened next.

“Yes, they told me… And that’s exactly why it’s difficult to give you a proper answer.”

Thomas looked into her eyes. She did not believe him and things were going wrong. Despite of being the same age, she seemed much older and more mature than him. Time had changed her but he still was the same kid.

“If I told you that time hasn’t passed for me since that night, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Thomas you know that this cannot be true. But don’t you worry, I’m sure that one day you will recover your memories and you would be able to explain what happened.

“Not, it’s not like this. I don’t believe I have a memory loss. There’s something else. Something I’m not able to understand. Something that escapes from my knowledge and it can’t be described with words.”

“Thomas. You don’t need to justify your actions. But don’t lie anymore.”

“I’ve never lied to you! Anyway, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Tell me about you. That’s what I only care now.”

“As straightforward as always, Thomas. Years may have passed and you might not remember the things. But, at least, I still know you were the same boy I fell in love. I know you haven’t changed at all and this makes me happy.”

From that point onwards, the meeting began to be much better than before and they started talking more relaxed and happier. Chloé explained him everything that happened to her after he left and she was more confortable. It all went extremely well and Thomas was convinced that they would be able to have a relationship again. Listening her while she was laughing made him to be in the seven heavens.

Thomas had dreamed a lot of days with that moment. The fact that he would be able to hug her, kiss her and recover the things they used to do was simply amazing. However, there was one thing and he wanted to forget forever: the guy that opened her door the day he reappeared. He told himself that he would be just a random guy she had met and she would forget him as soon as he reentered into her life. However, he was not as courageous as he thought: he did not dare to ask her about it.

They finished their meal and they go out in the street. Thomas suggested going for a walk around Montmartre and she accepted with pleasure. Sky was covered but it stopped raining so the atmosphere was perfect as it was not cold at all. They came across Abbesses square and sat in the nearest bench.

“Thomas, this place… We’ve been here before.”

“I knew you’d remember it. You’ve always had a good memory and that’s why I brought you here.”

“You haven’t changed at all…”

Chloé took a sad look to her left: a blue wall was illuminated by the streetlights. On the wall, there was written in withe I love you in different languages. She nodded, in some way she was sure that situation could happen.

“I know what you’re thinking Thomas, but this is not possible…”

Thomas was petrified. However, he did not want to give up so easy.

“You liked this place so much that I thought it was a good idea bringing you here.”

“I know you better than anyone and you remember well that this place was where we kissed for the first time.”

“As I said you remember all…” Thomas came closer, hugged her and he whispered to her ear. “What I say you that night has never changed. My feelings are the same. I still love you as the first day…”

Thomas started kissing her neck as he was caressing her hair. Then, he began to kiss her cheeks, he needed to kiss her lips, he wanted her. But when he tried, Chloé grabbed his chin and stared into his eyes. Smiling in sadness she moved her face away.

“Thomas, you are still the same. But what you want isn’t possible. I regret telling it to you in that way but our relationship was over a long time ago.”

Thomas did not react. She had smashed hard his heart and this one was about to crack. What could have gone wrong? He was still in love…

“Chloé, maybe 6 years have been gone. Maybe I’m not able to remember anything. Maybe I was gone without any explanation… But you must know that I still love you! I always loved you!”

“Thomas, stop it please. Don’t make it harder…”

“Even if the sky fell down, even if time stopped forever, you will always be in my heart!”

Without realizing it, he was shouting. Chloé started to cry and he made him feel worse.

“I just only want you to know that I’ve never forgotten you Chloé.”

“Me neither Thomas... I waited for you during a long time. You cannot imagine how I was…”

“So why is it not possible? Maybe someone has stolen 6 years of my life, but we are still young. We can recover our time lost. We can be happy together again!”

“You don’t understand Thomas… You think that you can disappear during 6 years and then came back from the shadows and get back your old life. Things move on and nothing is the same.”

“And why does this matter now? The important is that I’m here with you. I will tell you what it matters: that we are here toghether!”

“You’re just a stupid egoist Thomas! Do you really think that you can reappear whenever you want? That I will always wait for you? That my feelings would be the same? No Thomas. Things are not as easy as you may think.”

“But Chloé…”

“You abandoned me! And I had to rebuild my own life, not yours! Are you able to understand this?”

Cholé was crying in front of him. Thomas was pallid and he did not know what to do.

“I’m sorry Chloé. I’m so sorry…”

Thomas came closer to her and hugged her. Then he desperately kissed her. As soon as he touched her lips, she pushed him away and she slammed him as hard as she could. Thomas touched his cheek: it hurt and his heart was completely broken. He began to cry.

“What are you doing Thomas? Why are you trying to kiss me? Do you think that a stupid kiss can repair all the shit you’ve done? I asked you to respect me and you’ve not even been able to do it. Go to the hell Thomas!”

Cholé stood up and she began to walk towards the Metro station. However, Thomas hold her hand and stopped her.

“I love you Chloé. I’m sure that there’s something I could do…”

She furiously get away of him and she showed her left hand opened. She was wearing a silver ring.

“Do you see this? This is the proof that someone loves me and he won’t disappear without telling me as a rat. This ring was given to me by someone that I’m completely sure that will never ever abandon me, not like you. This means that I have someone that I’d give my life for.

“This cannot be true… Are you married?”

“Yes, Thomas. I married my husband 4 months ago. You saw him the day you selfishly decided to reappear knocking my door. But apparently, you have decided to live in your own perfect world without realizing the truth. You didn’t even dare to ask me, you were just busy trying to kiss me. You’re just an idiot.”

Thomas, fell down onto his knees. That girl was not her Chloé… He stayed there, just watching how she was walking again. He could not do anything. He was already dead. Before entering on the Metro, Chloé turned back and looked for the last time to the boy she once loved.

“Don’t contact me anymore Thomas. I beg you: forget me forever. In a few month we will be one more in my family and if you’re still insisting to see me, my husband will denounce you. Goodbye Thomas.”

Thomas saw her disappearing on the ground. This was the end, his own end. Rain began to beat him and he felt that someone was spying on him before collapsing on the floor.