Paris Escapade: A New Yorker’S Intimate Rendezvous

The Cut’s Steamy Sex Diary Series

Each week, Alyssa Shelasky invites readers into the private lives of anonymous urbanites with The Cut’s renowned Sex Diaries. This spicy feature began in 2007 and even inspired a 2022 HBO series. This week, we catch up with a 39-year-old single New Yorker who spices up her Parisian getaway with an unexpected twist.

A Trip with Ulterior Motives

Our anonymous diarist, hoping to rekindle an old flame, proposes a Paris trip to her former lover, N. She aims to spark romance amid the city’s enchanting backdrop, all while intending to catch the Gerhard Richter retrospective. Their bond has been on pause since N. called it quits on their undefined relationship in 2024, leaving her yearning for more.

“I wanted a relationship, and he ‘didn’t know what he wanted,’” she muses, packing for the trip. Her suitcase is more than just travel essentials – it carries the weight of a complicated past and an uncertain future.

Parisian Pleasures and Personal Gains

Amid the art and allure of Paris, our diarist takes a detour from her travel partner. Discovering new thrills in a parking garage, she finds an intimate escape from the unresolved tension with N. Throughout her week, she navigates the familiar balance between her work as a freelance graphic artist and the lucrative world of sugar dating. Despite the challenges, she embraces her age with confidence, acknowledging the changing dynamics of her side hustle.

“In a few hours of being with well-heeled men, I earn as much as a paycheck,” she reflects on her past experiences while contemplating her current reality.

Her Paris escapade offers more than just an exploration of art – it becomes a journey of self-discovery and bold choices in the City of Light.