It all started one day in late fall. That day I woke up melancholy, thinking that I did not like my life, that I was not leading the life that I really wanted. Frustration and fear seized me. I was 40 years old and I did not feel good about myself, was it the crisis of 40?
I started thinking and realized that I was not that old and had a lot to do yet. I had no partner, I had no children, I didn't like my stressful job. What was I going to do to solve my problems? My life was to get up and go to work, which occupied me all day because between the working day and the long trips I had to do, I had practically no time for anything else.
Every day I came home late at night and was so exhausted that I went to bed in no time. She didn't have time to hang out with friends; in fact, she had no friends, she had lost them all. My little apartment and my books were my whole life. My parents no longer existed, I had lost them as a teenager; first to my mother, then to my father, the poor thing died of grief. I was left alone in life, without siblings, without family. From that day on I became a lonely, fearful being, and that fear did not really let me do what I wanted.
I had to do something to change everything, to have a happier life, to have a better job, to maybe one day meet someone who would fill my soul.
I spoke to my boss and said goodbye to my tedious job. Then something pushed me to a plane ticket to a place in France. I didn't know if I was going to like that but I was excited to start a new adventure. I took a backpack and a travel bag with warm clothes and some toiletries. I arrived by metro at the airport in my city. It was two hours until my flight left, two hours to start a new life, two hours to finally have something to tell.
I arrived at my destination, it was seven in the afternoon and I took a taxi to get to the center of the city. There I found a beautiful city, all lit up with Christmas lights. That day they had opened the Christmas market in the historic center. I have never been in such a beautiful place. People drank hot spiced wine with sausages and families made their first Christmas shopping. That lifted my spirits instantly.
Now he just had to find a room for the night. I stared at a nice house of those with wooden beams. A pretty blonde girl took my hand and led me down a very steep staircase. She rang the bell and a very smiling old lady came out. As I could, I got on with that woman, given that she was not fluent in the language. That lady offered me a very cozy room at a very reasonable price.
My landlady, her name was Amelie, she was white like meringue and smelled like vanilla custard. Kissing her was like entering a world unknown to me. I went to sleep right away, I was exhausted from the trip and at the same time excited by the new emotions. Could I get a job there? I slept for ten hours straight. The next morning I was awakened by a voracious appetite and a delicious smell of fresh cakes. I dressed and dressed as best I could, as I wanted to make a good impression on my friend Amelie.
When I entered the dining room I saw a perfectly arranged table with plates and baskets full of dishes ideal for a sweet and nutritious breakfast. Amelie and I shared that delicious breakfast. At that moment I knew that I would do everything possible to stay in that beautiful city, to stay in that house with Amelie. This woman with just one look gave me all the love that I had needed, that grandmother filled my heart. My new friend took me with her and introduced me to various merchants in the area.
Before long he had a job and was happily selling Christmas trees and Christmas decorations. My boss was a middle-aged man, he soon learned that I liked to go my own way and he let me decorate his business at will. As if by magic, that man quadrupled his sales that day. It seemed that customers bought everything that I adorned.
When I returned home in the afternoon, the smile did not fit on my face. For the first time in a long time, with that job, which awakened my creativity, in that welcoming city and with Amelie, who was the grandmother I never had, I was happy. Time passed quickly living there, then I understood that I was learning to love myself and value myself.
When spring came, I was still working in that little shop, with my boss and good friend, Armande. I was ecstatic because I was preparing the decorations for Easter, painting eggs, dressing rabbits and chickens. When I got home that day, when I opened the door, there was a special guest, the grandson of my landlady, who came from afar like me. Huge dark blue eyes looked up at me, my gaze locked on his gaze. Then I understood everything, I understood that I had to make that trip to find him. Now after 20 years, I still feel his ocean gaze by my side.
Thank you for reading this story that has evoked Christmas and love.
Ana Isabel García Gargallo
