On a crisp and threatening Bordeaux morning with rain not yet falling two newly awakened lovers found solace in their favourite café overlooking the river. Pierre, a dashing young artist with a twinkle in his eye, and Amélie, a spirited and intelligent poet, often sought refuge in this café to escape the chaos of the world outside. They smiled at Geoffrey the much loved owner of the Cafe du souvenir as he busily waited on tables ,chatting happily as always with his loyal customers.

As they sat at their favourite corner table, sipping their favorite red wine, their conversation turned to the uncertain future that loomed over their beloved France.

Amidst the clinking of spoons against porcelain and the soft murmur of other patrons, Pierre leaned in, his voice filled with concern. 

“Amélie, my love, what do you think lies ahead for us? Our world seems to be on the brink of something terrible.”News of the Nazi occupation was like a dread cloud which had descended  and overtaken everything else. 

Amélie, her eyes filled with both determination and fear, took a deep breath before responding. “Pierre, my dear, I fear that the light has gone out” , rumours of atrocities committed by the S S  in other places were ripe. Who new what was fact or fear.. The whispers in the streets, the tension in the air, it all points to a storm that we cannot avoid. “But we must not lose hope. We must find strength in each other and in our art.”

Pierre nodded, his hand reaching across the table to gently hold Amélie’s. “You’re right, my love. Our art has always been our refuge, our way of expressing the beauty that still exists in this world. We must continue to create, to inspire, and to remind others of the power of love and unity.” That will be our resistance to this darkness.

As they spoke, their voices intertwined like a delicate melody, their words carrying a sense of urgency and determination. They spoke of dreams and aspirations and of the importance of cherishing every moment, for they knew that life could change in an instant. They vowed to support each other, to hold onto their love, and to face whatever the future held together.

 Amidst the aroma of freshly baked croissants and the familiar faces , Pierre and Amélie found solace. They knew that their love, their art, and their unwavering spirit would be their guiding light through the dark times that lay ahead.

At Pierre’s feet lay a brown paper package tied with string and as he bumped it with his foot he was bought back to the moment and smiled for the first time today. Geoffrey he called out and he looked up from his cleaning tables . I have a surprise for you . Lifting the package and offering it to him. Geoffrey hefted the package with interest , is it what I think, he said with a smile. Open and see said Pierre . 

Geoffrey untied the string and pulled apart the paper to reveal a framed painting of the cafe and at this very table three people sat featured . Pierre, Amelie and Geoffrey all with a glass of red wine in their hands .

“Thank you my friend “said Geoffrey as he hung it above the bar , little knowing that it was  a memory which none of them would ever see repeated, for within a week both pierre and Amelie would be swept up by the tide of occupation never to sit again at that favourite table .

 The couple said their goodbye and left the café. Hand in hand, they were ready to face the challenges of the future, armed with love, hope, and the belief that their stories would endure, even in the face of war. 

Many years later Geoffrey raised a glass of bordeaux to the painting which proudly hung above the bar as he told the story to his listening patrons of an artist and a poet who had dreams that lived on in the art left behind and the light that had survived the darkness of there life and those times.