Chapter 1

The airport was crowded, filled with the sound of rolling suitcases and voices in many languages. Eliana Reid stood near the window, holding her boarding pass, her dark coat neat and her hair tied back. She looked calm on the outside, but her mind was busy.

Beside her, her little sister Maya stretched her legs out in front of her chair and crossed her arms. “Feels strange, doesn’t it?” she asked.

Eliana turned to her. “What does?”

“Going back,” Maya said. “France. We haven’t been there since… what, fifteen years ago?”

“Almost,” Eliana said. Her eyes softened as old memories flickered in her mind. They had lived in Paris for six years as children, before their family moved back to the U.S. She remembered the narrow streets, the smell of bread in the mornings, the sound of the language all around them. It felt far away now, like another life.

Maya leaned her head back against the seat. “Sometimes I wonder if it’ll feel familiar, or if it’ll feel like we’re strangers.”

“You were too young to remember much,” Eliana said gently. “I was older. I remember more.”

“I remember some things,” Maya argued, though her voice was thoughtful. “I remember the little park near our apartment. And the bakery mum used to take us to.”

Eliana smiled at that, a real one this time. “The bakery… yes. With the little lemon tarts.”

Maya’s eyes lit up. “Exactly. I’m finding that place again. I don’t care how long it takes.”

Eliana shook her head, amused. “Paris is big. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“Hope is all I’ve got,” Maya said with a grin, then shrugged. “Besides, I need this gap year. After my first year of college, I just… needed a break. Classes were… a lot”.

Eliana studied her younger sister. At twenty, Maya was still searching, but she wasn’t a child anymore. She was bold, restless, and unafraid to speak her mind. It worried Eliana sometimes, but it also gave her comfort. Paris would not scare Maya.

“Then don’t waste it,” Eliana said softly.

“I won’t.” Maya’s eyes lit with determination. “I want to try new things—fashion, photography, maybe even investing. Who knows? I don’t want to look back and think I didn’t try.”

Before Eliana could answer, the speaker above them announced their boarding. Maya jumped up at once, shoving her phone in her pocket. “Finally.”

Eliana rose more slowly, tucking her boarding pass into her coat. They joined the line toward the gate, scanning their passes before walking through the jet bridge.

Business class was quiet compared to the noise of the terminal. The wide seats and soft lighting gave everything a calmer feel. The sisters found their row, sliding their carry-ons into the overhead compartment before settling down.

Eliana sank into her seat and let out a small breath. “Better,” she murmured.

Maya already had her blanket pulled over her lap.

An attendant stopped by with warm towels and drinks. Eliana chose water, while Maya, grinning, asked for champagne. She lifted the glass with a playful smile. “Cheers to Paris.”

Eliana clinked her water against Maya’s glass. “To Paris.”

As the plane began to taxi, Maya opened the screen in front of her. “Eight hours. What do people even do on flights this long?”

“Sleep,” Eliana said simply.

Maya shook her head. “Nope. I’m watching movies. I’ll sleep when we land.” She scrolled through the options. “They even have French films. I should probably watch one for practice.”

“Good idea,” Eliana said, leaning back and fastening her belt. “It might help you remember the language.”

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