It was on a foggy day on a long train journey when I encountered this strange woman. Her attire was elegant and almost royal. She looked French to me and my first thought was that she seemed to come from another era. But something about her was off, I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it. She stared at me with her expressive eyes and I nearly asked her what mascara she used. I didn’t have the courage. After what seemed like a rather lengthy moment of studying her physique she unexpectedly broke the ice by saying “You would like to be me for a day, n’est-ce pas?” Had she read my thoughts? I eyeballed her captivating face and didn’t quite know what to answer. When she began to take off her beret and her baroque earrings it dawned on me that she actually wanted to swap outfits. I was petrified and excited at the same time. “Do it, you only live once” I encouraged myself. The train stopped. And so did my heart. This woman really gave me her Prada top in exchange of my H&M jumper! Before I could realise what was actually happening the woman lowered her voice and meaningfully said: “I ‘ave a theory that you should do everything before you die.” Wait a minute, wasn’t this a quote from that novel I had recently read by Patricia Highsmith? Before I could summarise the plot of said novel the woman looked into my eyes for a last time and whispered: “Adieu, you ‘elp me be someone else today. Merci! Dressed as you I will finally be able to complete somesing important to me.” Oh no, I remembered the novel now. It was set on a train and the protagonists wanted to exchange murders. I wanted to run after the woman, but then realised I couldn’t run as fast in these high heeled overknee boots she had given me. Off she was in my ballet flats. What a strange encounter! I was just hoping that what this woman was about to commit was a fashion crime! At least I got to wear Prada for a day! ;-)
