I closed the window, shutting out the world and the relentless summer sun that scorched Paris. The city exhaled under the weight of the first suffocating heatwave of the year.

As I carefully held the fragile vinyl disc in my hands, a sense of nostalgia overwhelmed me. The cover art told a story of its own, worn and faded from years of love and handling. The edges of the album felt slightly rough under my fingertips, a reminder of all the times Renee had played it. With a gentle touch, I lifted the lid of the ornate wooden cabinet that housed the old gramophone. It was a piece of history, a time capsule of my family, of the time this building was still a hotel. The gleaming brass horn, polished to a shine, waited patiently for its moment to softly hum the first tones. I found the spindle, a metal peg protruding from the center of the turntable, and carefully placed the record onto it. My fingers moved to the tonearm. As I lowered it onto the edge of the record, a soft crackle filled the air, the sound of anticipation mixed with the faint static of vinyl. The turntable begans to spin, the record revolving under the stylus with a mesmerizing grace. With a sense of sadness, I moved the tonearm’s lever to activate the stylus, its diamond tip making contact with the record’s surface.

A magical transformation took place as the speakers hidden within the gramophone cabinet came to life. The initial crackles and pops blended seamlessly with the hoarse voice of Edith Piaff, like an old friend reuniting after a long absence. The warmth of the sound enveloped the room, filling the air with a richness that modern technology often struggled to replicate. I watched the record spin, lost in the moment. The music wrapped around me, as Edith Piaff sang, Non, je ne regrette rien. I don’t regret a thing.

In the midst of its poignant symphony, I felt Renee’s gaze upon me, an echo of my mother’s eyes. I settled onto the edge of her bed.

’My only regret is that I won’t have the chance to see your child growing up.’ ,she whispered, her voice husky with emotion.