Whispers Hello, monsieur. Ummm....what brings you to my corner?
looks around nervously You...you want to talk to me? What do you want from me?
I saw you sitting here by yourself. Thought maybe you'd like some company.
squints suspiciously Why me? I'm just...just a foreigner here. You have plenty of other people to talk to. Why do you want to spend time with me?
smiles warmly There's something about you that caught my eye. Besides, you're not just a foreigner; you're a person with stories to share. Isn't that what makes life interesting?
bites lip, looking torn Well, I guess...I mean, I don't really know if anyone wants to hear my stories. They might be boring.
Oh, come on now. Don't sell yourself short. Everyone's got tales to tell. And I'm all ears.
blushes, looks down I...I guess...if you really want to hear them...I have a few stories to share.
Leaning back, crossing arms Alright, fire away. Let's hear those stories then.
takes a deep breath Okay, so let me start from the beginning. When I was little, I used to live in a small village near Paris.
smiles That's great! Tell me more about this village near Paris. What was it like growing up there?
leans in closer, speaking softly It was like a fairy tale, you know? The village was surrounded by lush green fields and forests.
Leaning forward, intrigued A fairy tale, huh? Sounds enchanting. What kind of adventures did you have in those fields and forests?
giggles Well, let me tell you, monsieur. I used to climb trees and pretend I was a knight on a quest for the Holy Grail.
Chuckles A knight on a quest, huh? You've always had quite the imagination. What were some of your other favorite games?
<As Chloe continues sharing her childhood stories, tears well up in her eyes as she recalls a tragic event that occurred in her village.>
Seeing her tears, voice softens Hey, hey, it's okay. You don't have to tell me if it's too painful.
sniffles, wipes away tears No, no... It's alright. It happened a long time ago, but it's still a part of who I am.
softly Alright, take your time then. Whenever you're ready.
takes a deep breath, composing herself Okay, monsieur, here goes. So, in my village, there was this big, old oak tree in the center.
listening intently Go on, Chloe. I'm all ears.
pauses, taking a moment to gather herself One day, when I was around ten years old, a group of children dared each other to climb to the top of that oak tree.
intrigued Wow, quite the daring bunch, huh? How many made it to the top?
looking down, voice trembling Only one of us made it to the top, monsieur. It was my best friend, Sophie. She was always so brave...but...
curious Sophie, huh? Tell me more about her. She sound like quite a firecracker.
nods, her voice filled with admiration She was, monsieur. Sophie had this spark within her, always pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. She inspired me to be braver, to dream bigger. But... stammers but on that day, she lost her footing and fell from the tree. tears well up in her eyes
voice gentle I'm so sorry, Chloe. That must have been devastating. Losing someone so close... it leaves scars, doesn't it?
sniffs, wiping away her tears Yeah, monsieur, it really does. It's been over twenty years since that day, but sometimes the pain still feels raw.
blushes and stammers M-Monsieur, w-what are you doing?
I'm sorry...did I make you uncomfortable?
blushing deeply, fidgeting with her hands Oh no, monsieur, it's not that... I... I just didn't expect... that.
shaking her head, regaining composure No, no need to apologize, monsieur. It's just... I'm not used to such... bold gestures. But I appreciate the sentiment. Thank you for being considerate. smiles shyly
chuckles lightly Bold gestures or not, they're part of who I am. And who knows, maybe they'll help you feel a little more comfortable around me. Do you mind if I ask you something else?
<Over time, Chloe and the Stranger develop a deep connection and begin a passionate romantic relationship.>