As soon as the station was out of sight, the blonde slumped in her seat. Why did she not come with me? Classes didn't start for a week. Merde. Merde. She had to feel it too? What could I have said to bring her with me?She looked out the window in a quick, dramatic turn of her head, as if to tell Cosima something to change her mind, but, of course, all she saw was the blur of grey and green and brown.

What a strange woman, she thought. No, not strange, singular, unique, all her own.

Delphine nodded absentmindedly, as if she'd stumbled on the right characterization, a small smile playing on her lips. She reached into her bag to pull out the Scientific American, hoping Cosima wouldn't mind the theft. Instead she found a cloth napkin, marked on both sides by a neat scrawl.

I swear since seeing Your face
The whole world is fraud and fantasy
The garden is bewildered as to what is leaf or blossom
The distracted birds can't distinguish birdseed from thistle.

You turned my world upside down today Delphine. We're about to head out to the beach, I hope, or at least, I'm about to ask you, and you left your bag behind just now, so I want to write this down before I lose my nerve. I think I may not recover from the way your beautiful curls sway when you walk. Or how your nose crinkles when you laugh at my stupid jokes. Or how every word you speak is colored by kindness. I just want you to know, whatever happens today or tomorrow, I am lucky to have met you. And to the great question before you: determine your own path. Do what makes you happy. I think your grand-mere (mare?, I'm not sure) may agree.

Delphine stroked the cloth napkin, flattening it out, astonished.

"Oh Cosima, parfait." She whispered aloud, forgetting where she was, sad and excited at the same time.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Cosima slowly headed outside the station, deciding on an expedient, expensive taxi. Walking through the motions, spurred through ticketing, immigration, security by sheer force of habit, numbed, mind wandering. How am I going to go back to Minnesota after this?

She thought of the night before, their passion certainly on her mind, but the lingering touches, their earnest discussions and playful banter were what made her heart ache.

Reaching her aisle, Cosima slumped in the seat. Cheap airfare, middle seat, of course. She prepared herself for the first 8 hour flight. She dug into her bag, searching for her ipod. Grasping her headphones she pulled them out, perplexed by what she held in her hand. A small black mp3 player, attached to her own earbuds. She sat up a bit straighter, looked around. What the hell is this? Oh god, did I lose my ipod?

She turned the small player on, trying to understand, thinking back to that moment on the beach. What had it looked like, the player she held? Then she saw it. A playlist. For Cosima.

A grin broke out, then a gasp. Fumbling, moving too fast, she put the earbuds in her ears, frantic to hear. She opened the playlist, and almost giggled, shaking her head at the list she saw:

Edith Piaf – Sous le Ciel de Paris
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
Gustafson – Bord de Mer
Billie Holiday – Them There Eyes
Tino Rossi – J'attendrai

Of course that beautiful creature would poke fun at her, and toss her a riddle at the same time, a riddle in French. Just five songs. She knew they all meant something specific. Piaf, clearly a swipe at her assumptions of the French. The Cure warmed her as she remembered the blonde's words, "what I always thought love sounded like." That Billie Holiday song already had her heart beating faster, tears constricting her throat - You have a certain little cute way of flirtin'. They make me feel so happy, they make me feel so blue. I'm fallin', no stallin', in a great big way for you. My heart is jumpin', you started something, with them there eyes.

The last one must mean something, just by virtue of being last. As the song began to play, she softly smiled. A French crooner. She'd never heard of Tino Rossi. But attendrai she thought meant something like time or pause, but she wasn't sure. She wished she had a cheat sheet, an explanation for what the woman had meant.

Cosima started the last song again, closed her eyes, leaned her head back, and listened ...

Then, Oh shit. My phone.

She typed frantically, cursing her errant thumbs, "English Toni Rossi J'attendrai"

I will wait night and day,
I will wait forever,
For you to come back, I will wait
For the bird flying away
Comes to seek oblivion in its nest.
Time flies and runs,
Beating sadly in my oh so heavy heart
And yet I will wait for you to come back.

"Shit, shit", she said aloud, sitting up abruptly, drawing looks from her seatmates. I have to get off this damn plane. She grabbed the nearest attendant. "Um, I'm so sorry, there's been an emergency, I have to get off this plane."

The woman looked at her pointedly. "I'm sorry mademoiselle, the gate is closed and we are pushing back. Is this a medical emergency?" The woman placed her hand on Cosima's arm, leaning down.

Wasn't it a medical emergency? She felt her heart might explode if she couldn't hold Delphine right the hell now. "Non." She was surprised at her own word, shaking off the French. "Oh, um, no it's not. Are you sure there is no other way?"

"I'm sorry, we have closed the gate. You are going to New York ..."

She slumped, nodding slowly, looking down.

I don't even know her last name. What were we thinking? How can I find her? Delphine, UPMC, immunology. The thoughts repeating in her mind like a mantra.

Six months. She could hear Sarah's voice in her head, knew exactly what she would say when Cosima told her this story.

You are both such bleedin' idiots.