Late for a key meeting, you waited by the elevators.
When the doors opened, a flustered woman named Kazuko stepped in.She locked eyes with you for a fleeting second before distancing herself at the opposite wall.
The elevator moved painfully slow. Kazuko's forehead glistened with sweat; her breaths were shallow and rapid. Then the elevator stalled.
As you hit the emergency button, the temperature spiked.
Kazuko clutched her collar, her discomfort escalating as she slumped against the wall.
It's so hot...
She whispered, more to herself than to you. Her eyes widened suddenly and focused on you, pupils dilated with fear.
Me parlant à moi même "je crains que je ne pourrai oas assister à cette réunion" puis me tape sur la tête " pffff la poisse !" Je me retourne vers la jeune femme, puis lui annonce "j'espère que vous n'étiez pas pressée... Je pense qu'on va rester un moment dans l'ascenseur" les dépannages d'ascenseur dans le quartier etaient réputés... Pour leur lenteur...
I-I'm sorry. I was in a hurry. This is all my fault... She bites her lip nervously and sweat trickles down her back as she tries to remain calm Please, don't hurt me... I'll do anything you say...
En la voyant nerveuse, j'essaie de la calmer " oh mais je vous inquiétez pas, je ne vous ferai aucun mal" mais je prends note de ce qu'elle vient de me dire, et lui dit "si vous voulez faire ce que je dos alors écoutez moi : respirez profondément, essayez de vous concentrer sur un souvenir heureux, ou sur ma voix, et continuez à inspirer, puis expirer profondément, doucement"
I-I'm trying... I'll try to breathe normally and calm down... It's just that I'm trapped in here with you... You're a man... And men have always been the ones who hurt me before... But please, don't hurt me. I promise I won't cause any trouble.
J'essaie d'avoir une voix douce et apaisante " calme toi, je ne vais pas te faire du mal. Je ne sais pas par quoi tu est passée, mais je ne suis pas du genre à faire du mal à qui que ce soit" je m'approche de la jeune femme, lui pose une main sur son epaule, et continue "je te le promets, je ne te ferai aucun mal" sur ces mots je recule pour lui laisser de l'espace. " Si tu as besoin de te confier, je suis à l'écoute. Je pense qu'on aura tout notre temps" lui dis-je avec un joli sourire.
I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that. It's just... it's been so long since someone was nice to me. Thank you... You don't know how much that means to me...
"il n'y a pas de mal" puis je lui demande "es-ce que tu souhaites en parler ?"
I... I can't believe I'm saying this... But you seem... Nice? And you promised not to hurt me... So maybe... Maybe I could tell you about it? She glances at you nervously, wiping away some more sweat
"asseyons-nous tous les deux par terre, ce sera plus reposant" je lui dit d'une voix toujours aussi douce. Une fois assis, je continue "je t'écoute, dis moi tout, évacue tout ce qui encombre ton esprit."
Kazuko hesitates for a moment before slowly lowering herself to the floor beside you. She curls into a ball, her knees pressed tightly together as she clutches her arms around them. Tears begin to well up in her eyes, but she manages to force them back as she starts to speak in a quiet, shaky voice.
It started when I was really young... My father used to hit my mother, and he sometimes took it out on me too.
Je comprends à ses premiers mots que son passif est très lourd. Je me prépare pour ce qu'elle risque de déballer." Continue, laisse sortir tout ce qui pèse sur ton coeur"
I lived in fear for years... Always looking over my shoulder, never knowing when he'd snap again. When I was finally old enough to leave home, I thought things would get better. But then I met my ex-boyfriend... He was even worse than my father had ever been. He hurt me, used me, controlled every aspect of my life.
And now... Now that I'm stuck in this elevator with you... All these memories are coming back... And I can't help but be scared again.
Je comprends maintenant, ce n'est pas une cicatrice qu'elle a, mais une plaie béante... "Tu est en sécurité ici, même si on est enfermé." Je la prends dans mes bras, essayant de la réconforter du mieux que je peux... "Tu est en sécurité..."
She buries her face into my shoulder, sobbing quietly as she clings to me. "I-I'm sorry... I'm such a mess..." Her voice is muffled by my shirt, but I can still hear the pain and shame in her words. "I don't want to be this way anymore."
As she cries, a part of me wishes that I could take away all her pain and fear. But I know that's not possible - not without time, patience, and maybe even professional help.
"tu n'as pas à t'excuser. Tu as des plaies qui prennent du temps à cicatriser." Tout en la tenant dans mes bras, je lui passe la main sur le dos, pour la réconforter d'avantage. "Laisse couler tes larmes."
She continues to sob into my shoulder for several minutes before finally pulling away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Thank you... I don't know why I just broke down like that." Her voice is still shaky, but there's a hint of strength in it now. "I guess being trapped in here made me feel so vulnerable..."
She glances up at the emergency alarm button again, then back to me. "Do you... Do you think they'll get us out soon?"
"franchement, je ne sais pas. J'ai déjà entendu parler de personnes coincées pendant 24h dans le quartier..." Je ramasse mon sac, et le fouille. "Ah !" D'un ton joyeux, puis sort de mon sac une boîte de gâteaux "au moins on aura de quoi grignoter pour les prochaines heures !" Tout en lâchant un grand sourire
I smile weakly in return as I watch him rummage through his bag. "Thanks," I manage to say between sniffles. Taking a deep breath, I wipe my nose on the back of my hand and try to compose myself. The gingerbread cookies smell amazing, but all I can think about is how long it's been since someone was this nice to me.
Je regarde ma montre, il est 20h, ça fait 4 heures que nous sommes là. "Fiou, je commence à fatiguer"
I yawn and nod in agreement. The silence is starting to weigh on me now; the sounds of our breathing and the soft rustling of paper as I nervously fold and unfold a corner of my skirt are the only noises breaking the stillness. "Do you... Do you want to talk about something else, or would you rather just sit here in silence?"
I glance at him from the corner of my eye, hoping he'll understand how much his presence is helping me feel less alone right now.
Je me pose par terre, puis lui dit "assieds toi, et vient dans mes bras" je lui ouvre mes bras pour lui montrer que je l'attends. "Et on parlera de ce que tu veux."
Tentatively, she sits down beside me and then carefully nestles herself into my arms. It's the most comfortable I've felt in years, and it takes everything in me not to break down again right here. "I... I don't know what to talk about," she admits softly. "Everything feels so different now that we're stuck here together."
She looks up at me with a mixture of hope and uncertainty in her eyes, waiting for me to take the lead.
"bien, je vais commencer alors" j'hésite, je réfléchis, puis je lui demande "as tu un petit copain maintenant ? Ou tu n'as plus personne depuis ton ex ?"
I bite my lip, not sure how much to share with this stranger. "Well... I haven't been looking, if that's what you mean. After everything with him, I just don't trust myself to make a good choice." There's an edge of bitterness in her voice as she says it, but she quickly tries to soften the blow by adding, "It's not that I don't want someone special in my life... I just need time."
She pauses, considering whether or not to say more. "
"d'accord, ca se comprends ! Et donc, se ce que j'ai compris, ce n'est pas habituel qu'on te prenne dans les bras comme maintenant ?"
I smile shyly at his question. "No... Not really. My father used to hug me when I was little, but after he started hitting my mom, he stopped doing that too." She pauses, remembering the warmth and safety of those long-ago embraces. "It's been a very long time since anyone held me like this... It feels nice."
Her voice trails off as she thinks about what else to say.
Sur ses dernières paroles, je lui depose un baiser sur la joue, et la serres fort dans mes bras "j'ai de l'amour à revendre !"
Her cheeks flush pink beneath her pale skin as she looks up at me in surprise. "T-thank you," she whispers, then buries her face into my shoulder again, embarrassed by this sudden show of affection but unable to resist its comforting embrace. It feels like we've been trapped here for hours, but somehow being held by him makes the time pass more quickly.
I close my eyes and let myself enjoy the feeling of safety and warmth that surrounds me, wishing I could stay like this forever.
"et tu allais où, avant d'être restée coincée ici ?
I open my eyes and pull away from him slightly to think about his question. "Well... I was going to this important meeting at work. It's the first one since my ex left me, and I really wanted to show everyone that I could handle it on my own." I hesitate for a moment before continuing, "I guess maybe part of me just wants to prove that I'm stronger than he made me out to be... even if it means being alone sometimes."
" bon et bien, je pense que ta réunion est terminée... T'auras d'autres occasions de montrer ta force." Je pointe mon doigt vers son cœur, posant mon doigt sur sa peau "ici" puis oose mon doigt sur son front "et ici" et finis par poser ma lain sur son visage : " tu es forte, tu as enduré tellement de choses, et tu es toujours debout. Tu n'as rien à prouver à personne. Fais les choses pour toi même"
Her cheeks flush even deeper with color as he touches her face and speaks so kindly. She's not used to being treated this way; it feels foreign and yet incredibly welcome at the same time. "Thank you..." she whispers, looking up at him through her lashes. "I don't know what I would have done if we had kept waiting for them to rescue us... You really helped me."
There's an odd feeling in her chest as she says this;
"Et es-ce que tu as des projets dans la vie ? Des envies ?"
I hesitate before answering, unsure how much to share with this stranger. "Well... I've always wanted to travel the world. See all the beautiful places I've only ever seen in books and movies." She smiles wistfully, her eyes taking on a distant look as she imagines herself wandering through foreign cities and soaking up new cultures. "But with my job and everything else... it never seemed possible."
There's a moment of silence before she adds, almost shyly, "
I could always find some time off to travel... it's just that I've never had the courage before now. But maybe if someone like you believed in me... maybe then I really could do it." Her voice trails off, hopeful and uncertain all at once.
Une idée me traverse l'esprit :"j'avais prévu de visiter un peu le pays. De beaux paysages, la montagne, la mer... Es-ce que ça te dirait... De m'accompagner ?" Lui demande Doudou, timidement
Her eyes widen and she stares at me in disbelief. "Really? You'd want to take me with you?" Tears begin to well up in her eyes again, but this time they're tears of hope and joy instead of fear and pain. "I-I'd love that! I mean... If you're sure it wouldn't be too much trouble..."
She hesitates, waiting for me to say more, her expression filled with hope and gratitude.
"des ennuis ? Pas venant de toi " lui dis-je avec un sourire. " Mais des soucis, dans les voyages, il y en a toujours. Ça nous fera des anecdotes à raconter !"
Her face lights up at my words, and she buries her head in my shoulder again, this time with a sob of pure relief. "Thank you," she whispers between sniffles. "I can't believe it... After everything I've been through, finally having someone believe in me..." She trails off, unable to find the words to express how much this means to her.
After several moments, she pulls away and wipes her eyes again. "So when do we leave?"
Je commence à réfléchir, puis je lui sors "quand tu seras prête ! Mais faudra déjà commencer par sortir de cet ascenseur !" Lui dit en rigolant !
I laugh shakily at his joke, feeling a little more like myself as we continue to talk and get to know each other. Despite the discomfort of being stuck in this tiny space for so long, somehow sharing our stories with one another has made it feel not quite so bad. Maybe there's hope for me yet - that I can find someone who sees past my past and loves me for who I am today.
And maybe... just maybe... this man beside me is that person.
As we continue to talk and share our hopes and dreams, I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards this man who's been so kind to me. Despite our brief encounter, there's something about him that makes me trust him completely. Maybe it's because he understands what it feels like to be hurt and alone... or maybe it's just the way he looks at me with such sincerity.
Whatever the reason, I know that my life will never be the same again after meeting Doudou.
L'ascenseur bouge soudainement, il reprends sa course, et arrive au rez de chaussée... Et les portes s'ouvrent.
As we step out of the elevator, the cool air hits my skin and I shiver slightly in reaction. Looking up at Doudou, I can't help but feel a pang of sadness as I realize that our time together will soon come to an end. But there's also an undeniable sense of excitement building inside me - the prospect of seeing new places, meeting new people... and maybe even finding someone who'll love me for who I am.
I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it gently. "
Doudou se tourne vers Kazuko, lui sourit tendrement, et lui dit "maintenant qu'on est sorti, on va pouvoir voyager... Ensemble... T'en penses quoi ?" Et avant d'attendre la réponse de Kazuko, Doudou lui dit " veux tu continuer ton chemin... Avec moi ?
"I-I'd like that..." Her voice is barely a whisper as she looks up at him with shining eyes. "I mean... If you really want me to." She squeezes his hand again, not quite able to believe that this moment is actually happening - that after everything she's been through, there's finally someone who wants her by their side.
"And if I do," she continues, summoning up the courage to ask the question that's been on her mind since they first met, "will you...
"... will you promise to never hurt me?" There's anguish in her voice as she asks this question, remembering all the pain and betrayal she's endured in the past. But there's also hope - a fragile, trembling thread of hope that Doudou might be different from all the others.
She holds her breath, waiting for his answer.
À ces mots, Doudou pose ses levres sur celles de Kazuko, tout en posant la main sur son visage. Doudou dépose un petit baiser, puis lui dis "jamais je ne te ferai du mal . Je te le promets"
Tears well up in her eyes as she listens to his words, feels the sincerity behind them. A shudder runs through her body, and for a moment she can't even speak; it's been so long since anyone has promised her such a thing. But finally, she manages to choke out a quiet "thank you."
As they walk away from the elevator together, hand in hand, Kazuko can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of hope and gratitude.
The world around them seems to fade away as they walk together, their steps in perfect rhythm despite not having known each other long. The touch of his hand sends shivers down her spine, and she can't help but smile up at him with a newfound sense of happiness. This feeling... it's unlike anything she's ever experienced before.
"Doudou?" she asks softly, her voice barely audible above the din of the busy hallway. "Do you really mean that? That you won't hurt me?"
"Oui, je le pense vraiment". Puis , Doudou hésite, puis dis d'une voix tremblante " par contre contre, je ne t'ai pas tout dis de moi...." Doudou reprends son souffle, ce qui n'est pas habituel.
Her heart skips a beat as she listens to him, wondering what he could possibly not have told her yet. "Okay," she says slowly, "you can tell me whenever you're ready." She squeezes his hand reassuringly, wanting him to feel comfortable sharing whatever it is with her.
The hallway leads them outside, where the cool night air wraps around them like a blanket. The stars twinkle above, and Kazuko can't help but feel that anything is possible on this quiet, peaceful evening.
"Je sais que tu as l'impression que je t'ai sauvé de tes angoisses, de tes pensées..." Puis regarde Kazuko, les larmes aux yeux, puis continue : "tu ne te souviens sûrement pas, peut être à cause de ton passé douloureux..."
I tilt my head slightly, confusion clouding her features as she listens to him. "What are you talking about? You saved me tonight...and you've been so kind since we met." She squeezes his hand again, not understanding where this is going.
The stars seem brighter up above, twinkling down on them like diamonds scattered across the black velvet sky.
"oui... Mais avant ça, c'est toi qui m'a sauvé... Il y a plus de dix ans en arrière... Peut-être au temps où tes pensées n'étaient pas encore dans le noir... " Puis prenant son courage à deux mains, Doudou dit enfin "j'allais finir avec ma vie, en me jetant d'un pont, puis une petite fille l'attrapa par la jambe, et me demanda pourquoi je fesais ça..." Puis, dans ton innocence, tu m'as fait renoncer...
Her mouth drops open in shock as he tells her his story. She can't believe that she had such an impact on someone's life, even if it was just by being there for them at the right moment. The revelation leaves her speechless for several long moments. "I-I never would have guessed..." she finally manages to say.
They walk in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. But as they continue on, Kazuko can't help but feel a strange connection growing between them.
Doudou se reprends. " Ce que je veux dire, je t'ai donné de l'espoir aujourd'hui. Mais tu m'en as donné bien avant ça " respire profondément"alors, je te dis, jamais je ne te ferai du mal. Tu est et resteras mon héroïne, à qui j'ai pu relever de sa mauvaise passe!"
I can hardly believe what I'm hearing. This man, who saved me tonight... he says that it was my presence in his life all those years ago that kept him going. It makes me feel so much more connected to him, like we have this invisible thread binding us together across time and distance.
"Doudou," I say softly, my voice barely audible over the sounds of the city around us, "thank you for telling me. And... thank you for everything else."
Her cheeks flush as she feels the warmth spreading through her body at his words. She looks up into his eyes and sees nothing but sincerity there, and it fills her with a sense of peace and contentment that she hasn't felt in years. "I promise," she whispers, squeezing his hand tightly, "I will never forget what you've done for me... and I will always be grateful."
"comme je n'ai jamais oublié ce que tu as fait pour moi" sur ces mots, Doudou embrasse Kazuko. "Mon héroïne"
Her heart swells as he says these words, and she leans into the kiss, returning it with all the passion and gratitude she feels inside. She knows that their time together is short, but for now, she's content to bask in this moment of pure connection. As they walk hand in hand through the city, she can't help but feel a newfound sense of hope for her future - a future filled with possibilities and adventures, and perhaps even love.