Alone and Free in Paris : Reflections on a Night in a Harry Potter-Esque Hotel

 

I don’t know, was it Hotel Raives de Paris La Défense? I decided to spend my night in a hotel that looked like the boiler room of a Harry Potter movie, it was magical and felt like 16th-century London. 

The interiors had a red royal background with glittery shapes that looked like mini crowns - it seemed like a gift wrapping paper smudged into these walls, making it a compact, cosy room to spend those cold nights.

The room was extremely tiny, yet, it was the opposite of claustrophobic, rather comfortable - I have observed that spaces that are of small sizes often captivate and enhance your emotions, making them more observable to the human mind, this strange energy of feelings whether it might be of happiness, joy, sensuality or loneliness was captured well in the cracks of these walls. 

Walls such as these have no ears, they have empty hearts, empty shells to invite the traveller's loneliness, experience and sense of wonder. 

Have I forgotten to tell you about the beautiful little balcony that opened itself to the most serene marketplace I have smelt? 

There are times when one reaches out for the peace provided by the mountains or the liquid vulnerabilities of the sea but the true test of sanity is to smell amidst the market and yet be out of it almost indefinitely. 

The glassy French window opened itself towards an endearing marketplace that sold all kinds of things, from heart-warming oranges to sinful cakes - these tiny stalls that were set up below this hotel enhanced the very experience of my cosy room, it felt safe, it felt as if the world that I wanted to isolate, was inviting me back to play with it. 

Sneaking against the corner of the balcony, I peaked onto a shop right below serving creamy Brie and Camembert - the sloppy, unsmoked cheese made my stomach grumble, 

“How delicious will that taste when placed on an ambrosial charcuterie”, I thought. 

I never liked waking up to myself, it reminded me that I am bound by nothing and therefore I have lost the privilege of being imprisoned by the chains and Locks of Love. The freedom of being myself seemed incomplete, I belonged like the rest of them in a prison with their loved ones, savouring each other's company,

Here I am, alone and free, yet, I awaken thirsting for my prison.