Last Kiss in Paris

Today I fly from New York to Paris to meet the most beautiful Moldovan woman.

Dragoste.

The first word I learned online in the language of the Moldovans.

Moldova, a country most Americans know nothing about.

And I did not either.

I was online looking for something to write about.

I heard Moldova was the poorest country in Europe.

I know everyone wants the rich man mentality.

However, I happen to be a poet so I seek the soul.

And I remember some old saying that said, blessed are the poor in spirit

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So I started looking towards the poorest.

Being a poet I tried finding something interesting

and things to write about.

I am a poet.

A failed one, yet still a poet.

I've written a few books, some you've probably never heard of.

My work was loved by such a small few.

I get a few diehard fans in the middle of some countries in Europe.

They love my work.

Most critics hate me.

It would not matter if I wrote a follow-up to the Sona 18

by William Shakespeare.

They would despise it.

All over a comment I made over 20 years ago about a businessman

that everyone adores.

Well, life is political nowadays and I'm so horrible at that game.

One of my more known poems began like this.

If love is love, then why does it kill so easy?

If love is so wonderful,

why so many tears?

If love is good, Why so much evil in its name?

Time heals, but it never kills The thing you did to

my soul It was such a lengthy toll I paid with sleepless nights and the loss

of any path the loss of any sane bone in my broken body.

If love,

if only love.

I forgot to say what drogoste means. It means love in Romanian,

which is the language that most Moldovans speak,

along with Russian of course.

I saw online during my search that the poor people

of Moldova have a great deal of drinking and drugging and depression.

Of course, I would choose that to study.

Most poets, well, at least ones like me, had horrible childhoods.

Seeking the betrayal of the trauma, the hell from the mother or the father,

Whomever gave us this gift of the trauma child.

When I was online, I saw a little site for a film.

As they say, well,

my breath was taken away.

For a moment and each moment since,

this might sound absolutely insane.

However, it has taken me 10 years to make this trip.

She always told me when we spoke on the phone,

on video,

you always say you're going to come and you never come.

I did not come.

There was always something preventing me from coming to her.

I would promise and then something would come up.

France.

So much more beautiful than...

RINGTONE Regina!

No, it's a sister, Victoria.

Welcome to France.

Victoria?

I'm sure it was a long trip.

Can I see Regina tonight?

Look David, she has had a pretty good week this week.

However, the doctors say she should wait a day

before seeing anyone. They're trying a different dose

of medicine.

Only half of it. I don't think it's enough.

However, they're experimenting.

So we monitor tonight and see how it goes.

This never happened in Moldova.

Maybe they're giving her too much.

Maybe that's why she's self-medicating.

To feel better. Tomorrow I booked the Oscar Wilde room,

you know, the place where the poet died.

You know, she's a poet, I'm a poet.

One second David. I'm

on the phone with David, Victoria's boyfriend.

What are you wearing?

It's horrible.

I love it. It's Jean-Louis, for the rehearsal,

he wants us to be all dressed the same way.

I'm on the phone.

I'm sure it's very expensive

the hotel.

And all of this, this is wonderful of you.

Nevertheless, my sister's mental health is first.

So, look, get some rest and I'll call you if anything changes.

I'm sure she's just as excited to see you as you are.

Both of you, 10 years of waiting.

You must be excited.

Maybe nervous?

Victoria,

it means a lot. You're helping me with this.

A lot.

No.

Thank you for caring about my sister, David.

So many of her friends have abandoned her since she got sick.

Get some rest.

It took me a few years to realize something was wrong,

something was off about her. Yet it was a mystery.

Sometimes I would call her and she would be so alive,

so filled with love and energy.

She would show me her paintings, her poetry.

We loved writing poetry and reciting to each other.

Regina,

I left my glasses in the living room, sorry.

Hey, no, no, no, no!

Show me!

Show

me the painting. The one in the castle.

You like?

Yeah!

That's my favorite one. God, I miss Europe so much.

I really do.

I love the castles. You know, you have more castles

than we do hamburger joints. Ha ha ha!

You're my dream, you're my everything.

My nothingness in a dark cave each day without your love.

And you, like my heaven, Like my hell, burning my heart.

Do you not see my eyes on fire for you? Do you not see my heart erupting for you?

Do you not see, feel my soul is near you?

Die, die, Die, summer wind, until you carry him to me.

It's,

It's so brilliant.

Regina, it's brilliant.

Your poetry.

When will you come? If you don't come,

someone will come and take me from you.

I'll be in Moldova soon, okay? I promise.

I'll come.

I'll be there. You just give me a little more time.

I have a deadline for this book. I...

You know, I have to eat. We have to eat, yes?

Did you... Did you send me my cigarettes?

Yes,

a big box.

It's coming soon. It'll be delivered Monday,

okay?

And the chocolates?

And the chocolates.

And cola zeros,

a whole

box.

Really?

Really.

Regina,

look, I'm trying to come there, I really am.

I know it was one excuse after the other, and you know, the pandemic hit,

and I was coming.

Do you still love me?

I only love and trust God.

Oh God, you are my only friend.

You are my only hope.

You are my spinning light.

It's amazing.

It's amazing and your poetry is even better than mine.

What is that painting?

No, no, that picture.

Who is that? I've never seen that.

Oh, oh.

That's my sweet sister.

She...

Victoria.

Pobeda.

It means victory.

She from my mother, another first husband, a guy from Paris.

We are very close.

Well, sometimes.

I love to speak in French.

J'adore le parler en français.

She looks like she cares for you deeply.

Are you alright, honey?

Did you just take a drink of... What's in that plastic?

It was a juice, yeah?

You know you cant smoke weed, honey. Remeber, you have issues.

You were going to tell me more about it. You said you were in the hospital

with Mama from time to time.

I know that you're unbalanced sometimes. I can see it.

But I don't understand it all. You have to give

me more information.

You will never understand me.

Only Jesus understands me.

Only the spirit can fathom who Regina Romanescu is.

You will never understand me.

I see you smoking, Regina.

Look at you, you funny girl. I bought them, remember?

I see you smoke it.

You don't have to hide it from me.

You don't have to hide anything from me.

You know I want some wine.

You know I want some smoke.

You know I want to go... You take me swimming.

I want you to take me swimming I want to be in nature David

you know I hate alcohol you know I don't like drugs I've seen it destroy

my mother she died from, my father, my sister

come on a little glass of wine, a little smoke...