She had arrived by morning flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from Dublin that day in February, while he had taken a short transit through Berlin before taking a ride by a high-speed train to travel to Paris. 

Orla was super excited to explore the city of her dreams, which she had heard so much about from her friends in Ireland. Here she was ready to tick it off from her bucket list at last. 

This city of love was steeped in culture, history, and beauty, and there were umpteen attractions to check out – from the iconic Eiffel Tower to the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre Museum, Musee d’Orsay, the all-so-famous Seine River Cruise, not to mention indulging in some high-street shopping and eclectic Parisian dine outs. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Adrian was staying at Hotel Diana as it was a budget-friendly hotel that suited his pockets. It was his maiden visit, and he was determined to make the most of his stay. Given his limited means, he couldn’t have afforded anything lavish. 

He was staying for three days but missed not having a companion to explore the City of Lights – La Ville Lumiere — together. It would have been 10x times more exciting that way, reveling and immersing in the city’s beauty in concert!

He had an early dinner, and before hitting the pillow, he set the alarm on his phone to get up sharp by six the following morning. He was exhausted from two days of continuous travel but felt all the pain vanish in seconds the sooner he slid into the soft comfort of his cushioned hotel bed. 

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Orla had a luxurious breakfast at Shangri-La the following morning.

She couldn’t catch a wink the previous night from all the feverish anticipation of the trip. 

She had never stepped out alone in her life. She always had her mother or best friend, Emer, for company. They had protested in unison when she had announced her desire for a solo trip this time but accepted their defeat when Orla refused to retract. But they did it on one condition: that she will be safe and will not skip her medicines or on her daily calls. Orla obliged.

She took a cab for her first stopover — The Louvre Museum. 

She has always been fascinated by history and the arts. 

As she stepped down from the cab, she stopped to wonder at its grandeur and historical import. With bewildering eyes, she exclaimed… “So this was once home to the French kings! Such a magnificent palace!”  

“Yes, ma’am. It is also one of the best-known arts,” Orla turned around to see that her musings were interrupted by a handsome but extremely gaunt-looking young man, almost her age or perhaps a few years her senior. He spoke with a distinct accent. 

“Hi, I am Adrian. I am from Poland,” Adrian introduced himself to Orla, sticking out his right hand in a friendly gesture to shake Orla’s. 

“I am sorry if I am barging, but I thought you are a foreign visitor like me, and wouldn’t it be nice to check out this place together? We will each have company that way,” Adrian tried to smile, unsure what to expect from the other end.

“I am Orla,” Adrian felt relieved after his greetings were reciprocated with as much warmth and kindness from his new companion. “I am from Ireland. It’s a great idea! I have so much to explore in the city, and the time is short. I was second-guessing about my solo trip already.….” continued Orla in her chirpy style. “I am glad that I do not have to be on my own now, as the idea was a little intimidating.”

They entered the giant glass grid pyramid of this historic museum, chatting and laughing together as if they had known each other for a lifetime. They both had their guards down now after the initial hesitation.

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The museum had so much to offer. The highlights were the famous works of Mona Lisa by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci, the Greek statue of Aphrodite, priceless collections of Hellenistic art, Egyptian artifacts, Islamic art, and decorative items from the 19th century.

Both Orla and Adrian shared a common interest in the arts and history. They excitedly exchanged historical facts and figures they knew about the era they checked out in the different wings and sections. 

At the end of some five-odd hours at the Museum, they were famished. 

“I am so looking forward to trying out the Parisian delights…!” exclaimed Orla. “My friends have raved about the traditional French brasserie dishes, seafood platters, and steak frites at the Au Pied de Cochon, would you like to check that out with me?”

Adrian answered in the affirmative as they both headed toward the restaurant. 

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As they waited to be served, they delved deeper into their conversation. 

Orla shared that she had lost her father when she was just thirteen. Her mother had single-handedly raised her with much care and love. She spoke about Emer and how she has been like a sister to her. Both she and her mother had been like solid pillars of support in Orla’s life. 

Orla was recently diagnosed with early-stage Pulmonary Fibrosis, but she is told that the illness could slowly progress towards fatality if she was not careful. She is just twenty-five but wants to live until she is 100 and beyond because life excites her. Not sure if she will ever be able to venture out alone again, she intends to make the most of this trip. She stopped and turned to Adrian now. 

“I am so sorry. I have hardly allowed you to speak all this time. It’s your turn now.”

Orla noticed that Adrian’s eyes were moist with tears, and his voice was heavy when he spoke.

“You know what, Orla? We were perhaps destined to meet. There’s something you and I both share in common,” stated Adrian.

“I, too, have been diagnosed with third-stage lung cancer. I do not have many days to live. Unlike you, I am an orphan and do not have a soul brother or sister or even a parent to lean back on. Nobody cares if I live or die because I have largely been on my own.

I am a teacher at a primary school in Poland. I always wanted to be a globetrotter and Paris was on my priority list. However, my limited income prevented me from traveling. Now that the doctors have virtually given their verdict, I was determined to use all of my life’s savings to spend on this trip, which could also very well be my last,” smiled Adrian faintly.  

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The connection between the two was palpable for the rest of their vacation. They had struck an unspoken bond of friendship after their meeting on the first day. 

They checked out the Palace of Versailles, the famous Musee d’Orsay, and enjoyed the Seine River cruise together, culminating their trip with their visit to the iconic Eiffel Tower and framing their picture with a heart gesture. A connection that was unforgettable and made a lasting impact on their brief lives. 

They had learned what it was to live through fleeting eternity!

This was written by our contributing writer, Chandrani Mukherjee.