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Brock washes his hands as well, and we leave the bathroom. The women are still sitting at the table, and they rise.
“All right, Brock,” Brianna says. “Where to first, cuz?”
“To the Métro first,” he says. “And then, on to the Louvre.”
At the entrance to the Louvre is the Louvre pyramid, which looks terribly out of place, in my opinion. It’s a modern design, constructed with glass panes and metal poles, and it juxtaposes oddly against the historic architecture of the museum itself.
I let out a sigh as I follow Brock, Brianna, and Maddie into the museum. I’m not unlike the pyramid.
That brush with death threw me out of whack with who I am.
Brianna’s smile is wide. “Let’s start with the Mona Lisa. I’ve always wanted to see it in person.”
“So we’re just going to meander around without any plan?” Brock asks.
“Of course not,” Brianna says. “The plan is to start with the Mona Lisa. I want to see all the famous works. You know, the ones everybody knows about.”
Works for me. I do appreciate art, but I’m not going to get as much out of the Louvre as my cousin Gina would. She’s an actual artist. Besides, strolling around a museum isn’t going to do much for that grasshopper munching on my spine. I need a good workout. Or another romp with Maddie.
“She’s on the second floor, right?” Maddie says.
“Who’s on the second floor?” I ask.
“The Mona Lisa.” She rolls her eyes. “That is what we’re talking about, isn’t it?”
I simply nod.
Brock nods as well. “Yep, let’s head upstairs.”
As we make our way through the magnificent hallways, my mind begins to wander, and I recall the terrifying moments on that plane. The sudden turbulence, the oxygen masks dropping down, and the passengers’ panicked reactions. It’s difficult not to relate it to the chaos of this bustling museum.
We finally reach the room that houses the Mona Lisa, and the crowd is enormous.
“There she is!” Brianna squeals.
Maddie smiles. “Let’s get a closer look.”
Brock and the women head closer, and Brock looks over his shoulder. “Dave, you coming?”
I nod and follow them as they approach the iconic painting. I gaze at the Mona Lisa, trying to appreciate its beauty and how the standards of beauty have changed over time.
But her serene smile seems to be hiding something. Some underlying turmoil.
Like I did on the plane, staying calm for Maddie’s sake.
Yeah, she’s beautiful, but she’s not helping me.
I’m staring at her smile when Maddie’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
“Dave, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
We move on from the Mona Lisa, and Maddie and Bree continue to discuss the art, but their voices don’t permeate my mind. The artwork around me begins to blend together as I struggle to shake off the trauma haunting me.
“Let’s check out the Egyptian artifacts,” Brock says. “Maybe we’ll see some mummies or something.”
Brianna swats his shoulder. “There’s more to the exhibit than mummies.”
