24 Hours

Jimin put on a happy face and walked into the restaurant a half hour late, apologies flowing from his mouth.“Jimin, where have you been?  We’ve been worried sick about you!” Hobi…

Jimin wanted to hold Eileen’s hand, but he was carrying two canvases.  They walked toward the steps that led down the hill.  But he paused at the top before heading down.  He stopped…

They passed old-fashioned streetlamps as they walked down the cobblestone streets.  The little district was dotted with cafés.   Storefronts popped up every so often too.  They sold wine from a local vineyard, its…

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Eileen faced an empty canvas.  What would she paint on that rectangle if this were truly her tiny square meter of Paris?  She stared at it…

Jimin and Eileen held hands as they climbed the seemingly unceasing ascent of steps to find the artist district displayed on a hill overlooking the beautiful city of Paris, France.  Montmartre…

“Hey!” Hobi asked Jin, “Where is Tae?”“I don’t know.  He thought he saw Jimin and took off after him.”“Huh.”  Hobi looked around.  Eileen had wandered off before she could order any tea.  She had…

Tae and Jimin entered the Disney store in a rush.  Jimin was getting anxious.  He really, really wanted to find Eileen.  Was she frantically looking for him, or had she given up on…

Eileen was studying her feet.  Then her eyes traveled over to Pierre’s little shoes.  He needed a new pair desperately.  Her heart turned over in compassion for the small boy.  She pulled up her…

But Eileen was still missing.  Tae and Jimin had walked up and down the Champs-Élyssés for the last half hour looking for her.  Tae could tell that Jimin was crushed.  He must really…

Jimin was worried.  He had lost sight of Eileen.  He had backed away into the crowd to avoid detection by both Tae and any security cameras lurking nearby.  Or cellphones recording the whole…