Aimer quand même

In the tranquil dusk of the Luxembourg Gardens, a respected physician drifts among blooming jacarandas, lost in memories of a happier childhood. His old friend, the sharp‑tongued lawyer Henri des Jonchères, joins him, instantly sensing the doctor’s preoccupation and teasing the notion that love must be the cause. Their easy banter reveals a deep bond forged over years, while the garden’s gentle rustle frames a nervous confession that will soon change the doctor’s life.

Bernard is about to ask for the hand of Gertrude Deplémont, a fragile woman whose family has fallen on hard times after a scandal‑riddled past. He has tended to her through illness, seeing a strength beneath her sorrow that compels him to act. As the evening deepens, the two friends grapple with questions of duty, compassion, and the courage required to love despite hardship, setting the stage for a tender yet conflicted romance.