WEBVTT 00:00:01.240 --> 00:00:08.580 Staying close. That's what I want, Paris. Staying 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:12.539 close. I'm staying close to you when the rain 00:00:12.539 --> 00:00:15.099 tiptoes on the skylight window in the morning. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:19.420 When water splashes the porthole of my room like 00:00:19.420 --> 00:00:23.739 a waving scarf. When I hear my footsteps on the 00:00:23.739 --> 00:00:26.980 barge floor in the middle of the night. When 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:31.429 my breath speaks slowly to my mind. when tears 00:00:31.429 --> 00:00:38.890 gently cleanse my face. I'm ready, Paris. I feel 00:00:38.890 --> 00:00:41.609 ready to allow everything that you are to come 00:00:41.609 --> 00:00:46.070 to everything that I am. Like allowing the constant 00:00:46.070 --> 00:00:50.030 sway of the waves, sometimes gently and makes 00:00:50.030 --> 00:00:53.189 my beautiful dresses on the hangers dance a foxy, 00:00:53.409 --> 00:00:57.109 sometimes less gentle and makes banging noises 00:00:57.109 --> 00:01:02.350 outside. constant sway with various levels of 00:01:02.350 --> 00:01:05.510 gentleness that gives a sense of familiarity 00:01:05.510 --> 00:01:12.510 without diminishing newness and vice versa. I'm 00:01:12.510 --> 00:01:19.670 ready. But I'm feeling sleepy. I'm feeling sleepy, 00:01:19.670 --> 00:01:24.209 Paris. Like there's this lullaby caressing my 00:01:24.209 --> 00:01:27.209 head and putting a warm blanket over my body. 00:01:28.489 --> 00:01:31.290 Or is it just my nervous system feeling so at 00:01:31.290 --> 00:01:34.310 home knowing you're staying close, which I feel 00:01:34.310 --> 00:01:36.989 so deeply each morning after my first night with 00:01:36.989 --> 00:01:41.829 you? You're staying close as I walk along the 00:01:41.829 --> 00:01:44.510 River Thames and admire the red brick houses 00:01:44.510 --> 00:01:47.569 with white window frames on Albert Bridge Road. 00:01:48.150 --> 00:01:51.450 As I indulge my senses in the theatre or the 00:01:51.450 --> 00:01:55.989 cinema. As I let things happen. As my entire 00:01:55.989 --> 00:01:59.739 life unfolds. Not before me, but through me. 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:05.400 You're staying close as I write my story, as 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:12.259 I talk to you this way. Half asleep, I can hear 00:02:12.259 --> 00:02:15.680 my steps as if I'm walking down the metro station 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:20.240 with such certainty. I can smell the Parisian 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:24.840 air, which never offends me, as if I'm strolling 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:28.639 on your boulevards and medieval streets. I can 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:31.819 taste the coffee and the wine as if I'm sitting 00:02:31.819 --> 00:02:34.539 in your cafes and interacting with people in 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:40.219 my mind. I can hear French and some Italian being 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:43.340 spoken from various corners as if I'm just slowly 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:48.479 going about my day in the city. I can hear jazz 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:54.590 as if I'm in one of your sexy venues. I can feel 00:02:54.590 --> 00:02:57.930 my body moving as if I'm dancing with my friends. 00:02:59.169 --> 00:03:03.469 I can feel my right hand moving as if I'm turning 00:03:03.469 --> 00:03:08.469 a page in the metro. I can hear my keyboard tapping 00:03:08.469 --> 00:03:12.949 sound as if I'm concentrating by the window overlooking 00:03:12.949 --> 00:03:17.009 your neighbourhood. I can feel your warmth all 00:03:17.009 --> 00:03:22.270 over my body as if I'm in bed with you. I can 00:03:22.270 --> 00:03:26.229 feel the smile on my face as if my day is complete. 00:03:27.310 --> 00:03:30.990 Though I smile throughout the day too. Yep, I'm 00:03:30.990 --> 00:03:33.169 that smiling Parisian you can't escape in the 00:03:33.169 --> 00:03:37.710 street. You have been with me through it all, 00:03:37.750 --> 00:03:41.710 Paris. Even in those moments where I seem to 00:03:41.710 --> 00:03:45.969 be oblivious of you. Even in those moments where 00:03:45.969 --> 00:03:49.349 you seem to be oblivious of me. Though I know 00:03:49.349 --> 00:03:53.699 now you've never been oblivious of me. You have 00:03:53.699 --> 00:04:00.680 your gaze steady upon me. If time existed between 00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:03.780 us, I'd say this has been a long time in the 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:08.240 making. But I see that you are my block universe, 00:04:08.500 --> 00:04:13.159 Paris. Where everything happens beyond time. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:17.079 Where all phases in my life melt together and 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:22.800 are aware of each other. I love you beyond space 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:26.779 that you don't cease to exist when I'm not physically 00:04:26.779 --> 00:04:32.759 there. My awareness of your existence is the 00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:36.860 confirmation of my existence. And everything 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:44.279 expands as I steady my gaze upon you. I'm feeling 00:04:44.279 --> 00:04:49.040 sleepy, Paris. Though something is waking up 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:54.290 inside of me. With every slow breath that I take, 00:04:54.490 --> 00:04:58.290 with every letter that I pour out onto the white 00:04:58.290 --> 00:05:02.490 page in front of me, I'm dropping the struggle. 00:05:03.850 --> 00:05:07.490 Harder than when I dropped writing 17 years ago 00:05:07.490 --> 00:05:10.110 because someone told me I should chase stability 00:05:10.110 --> 00:05:16.269 instead. In that process, I almost lost myself 00:05:16.269 --> 00:05:21.240 instead. But it is not possible to lose myself 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:26.100 with you, Paris. The illusion of stability that 00:05:26.100 --> 00:05:30.379 have kept you away from me for so long, let it 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:35.240 all crumble until I'm naked again, and staying 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:42.139 close. Staying close. I'm not with you, Paris: I am you. 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:50.560 le premier fevrier 2026, je t'embrasse !