Chapter 4 — Rue des Étoiles

Isabelle

The cobblestones of Rue des Étoiles glistened faintly under the overcast sky, their uneven surfaces catching remnants of the morning rain. Isabelle adjusted the strap of her Leica, the familiar weight of the camera grounding her as she walked slowly along the narrow street. Ivy curled over wrought-iron balconies, tiny clusters of lavender spilling from window boxes. The scent of fresh baguettes from a nearby bakery mingled with the faint aroma of damp earth. It was picturesque, undeniably so, but Isabelle felt the charm prick at her like a splinter—a beauty that seemed to mock her unease rather than soothe it.