Toulouse. There was so much damn love in the air. Not the romantic kind, but a love of literature and authors. From the moment I got out the taxi, I felt it. And this was why I introduced my first event in French—to take a risk in the hopes of connecting with the people of Toulouse. It was only a handful of words, but my heart was somersaulting like Simone Biles.⠀ ■ ⠀ With the stage set, @mryanngael entered and read from BUCK ET MOI for 45 mins. He inhabited the characters in a way that brought me back to the little room I’d conjured them in, as I was trying, trying, and trying to figure out what it meant to write, to be a writer. Things I’m still figuring out. When I was back in my seat, in a theater of 200 people, in France, hearing my words performed in French, I had tears in my eyes.⠀ ■ ⠀ The next day, we had an event in a courtyard where folks could sip coffee and munch on croissants. It was the first time I’d ever had a translator, which was jarring, but I soon surrendered to her. There was a Black boy in the audience with his mother—two of three present. I smiled at him, he smiled back. His mother asked me if I’m an African-American writer, or a Black writer. We developed a rapport that day, and I felt like he was my little brother. I hoped that in me he saw a reflection of possibility, of the endless paths he could tread or, better yet, carve out for himself.⠀ ■ ⠀ When it comes to highlights, it’s always the people. The people who packed out our events were mostly white and entirely welcoming. Listening, nodding, trying to understand. But my most special bonds were with the Black writers, actors, and journalists I was fortunate enough to meet. Who spoke of success, loneliness, and all of the other words that know no borders when you take up the beautiful burden of creating. Just to be with them was a gift.⠀ ■ ⠀ But the trip wouldn’t have been perfect without my French editor, @maylisdelajugie, and our bookseller liaison, Candice. We ate, laughed, and learned together. I was grateful to be able to debrief with them after events, especially one where Maÿlis turned into superwoman for me at the last minute.⠀ ■ ⠀ Merci, Toulouse. Merci, @lemarathondesmots.