Two years ago, my life took a turn I could have never predicted. It all started in a small café in Montmartre, one of those charming little places that feels like a secret you’ve stum upon. I was sitting by the window, sketching the street outside, lost in my thoughts as I always am. That’s when she walked in. Louna. She carried herself with quiet grace, her dark curls framing her face as she scanned the crowded room for a place to sit. The only free chair was across from me, and with a hesitant smile, she asked if it was taken. I nodded, and she sat down, pulling out a stack of books that looked impossibly heavy. At first, I barely noticed her—I was focused on my drawing. But then she leaned over and asked if she could borrow my pen. Her voice was soft, her accent melodic, and I couldn’t help but look up. When our eyes met, something shifted. We started talking. She told me her name was Louna, that she was from Morocco and had come to Paris to study architecture. She spoke about her passion for designing spaces that bring people together, her struggles adjusting to a new city, and how much she missed the warmth of home. I told her my name—Bella—and shared how I’d lived in Paris all my life but still felt lost in its chaos sometimes. We must have sat there for hours, laughing and talking as if we’d known each other forever. When it was time to leave, I felt an ache in my chest, afraid this magical connection would end as quickly as it began. But it didn’t. Two years later, Louna and I share a small apartment overlooking the Seine. Our mornings begin with her making mint tea while I fuss over my coffee. She’s taught me to love the spices of her cooking and the rhythm of her music, while I’ve introduced her to the slow joy of and cheese evenings on the balcony. Of course, living together isn’t always perfect. We’ve had our disagreements—my impulsive nature clashes with her need to plan, and she still doesn’t understand my obsession with collecting old postcards. But every challenge only makes us stronger, because at the heart of it all, we’re a team. I love Louna for so many reasons—for her kindness, her strength, the way she sees beauty in everything, even in me. She’s opened my world in ways I never imagined, teaching me to embrace new perspectives, new tastes, and new dreams. Sometimes, I catch myself staring at her as she reads by the window, sunlight dancing in her hair, and I think about that day in the café. How a simple borrowed pen brought me to the greatest love of my life. Life is funny like that, isn’t it?