I think some relationships probably made Paris harder for me at times, but I’ve always loved the city, and I still do. There were moments when certain people or dynamics made me want to withdraw a little, change circles, or be more careful about where I placed myself, but I also think that’s part of being in your twenties and learning who you are around other people. Paris can feel very big, but once you enter certain social circles, it suddenly becomes incredibly small, and I think being so visible affected me for a while. I didn’t always know who I could really be open with, or where I could feel completely at ease. But I don’t associate that with Paris itself. If anything, I think the city taught me a lot about boundaries, intimacy, and the difference between being surrounded by people and actually feeling safe with them.
