The bus enters the famous city of Paris. Doesn’t look so chique from this perspective, now, does it?
As I arrive in Paris, I take my headphones off. I look to the city and think to myself, “it feels different,” “everything feels different now.”
I’m more aware. Of my feelings, of my surroundings.
Someone is waiting for me at the station: Alexandre. He’s also a cybersecurity dyslexist, into greec mythology.
This is not a coincidence.
2 days earlier, he contacted me to “get to know me.” I didn’t think I’d be in Paris anytime soon when he did.
Later on he tells me the real reason, unsuspecting, ”Guillaume wanted me to be friends with you.” Guillaume is leader of a bible group. And it seems like he really wants me to join by luring me in with multiple good “friends”.
We wander around, and go grab a drink. I take a green tea, then we talk, mostly of mythology, religions and buddhism.
When he asked me, “Do you like sports?” the day before, I had to reply with an enthusiastic yes. I thus cannot afford to say no we he says there will be an exercise session with the bible group, starting at a park. “I’d rather walk to get there,” I say, and so we do.
We have to wait a bit for everyone to come. The park has a lot of people, and a very relaxed mood.
We talk a bit, he mentions three “joyful occasions going on” and goes further to say “quite a few people won’t come.” I ask him what he means by joyful occasions… it turns out it’s what they call dating within the group! So it’s encouraged, even celebrated to date in the group… Nice try, that still won’t convince me to join.
The sport coach asks me what my strengths are. “Speed… willpower, but I lack proper training,” I say. I ask him his, but he is not sure.
Then we take off running (thankfully Alexandre took my bag). We go up the stairs in jumps, then we run until we get to a sport place in another, much smaller park.
There we do pushups, belly musculation, tractions… It was an intense 1h30, even for me, who usually does this kind of thing at home. It took care of most of my muscles alright! Funnily enough, once it’s over, I’m the one walking the fastest, despite my bag. I guess they haven’t been to India, uh? Suits me well, I talked with them a bit already, now I have time for some pictures.
We go to a restaurant, but I’m not really hungry. We talk until I have to leave to catch my train, a bit too late in fact. Thankfully, as always, luck is on my side. A stranger tells me one thing there, another here, and I still get the train well in advance.
I try to be friendly with someone in the train, we talk a little, but he’s too absorbed by his phone, so I just decide it’s about time to eat something. Whilst I’m at it, I reorganize my bag for the upcoming 1h30 walk. I have food for 4 days and what I need to sleep with me.