PARIS --At the cordon near the Bataclan nightclub, where most of Friday’s terror attack victims were killed, a man lit candles on Sunday morning. Either side of him, his young children also knelt in thoughtful silence.
Norbert Moudjeb, his son Enzo and his daughter Diya were three of many who have come out on France's second day of mourning to pay their respects, as tributes have grown at all the sites involved in the attacks.
Mashable asked Moudjeb why he came. “Because we’re affected by it,” his son Enzo answered for him.
“It’s very important that this stays in their memories,” Moudjeb, who’s from North Africa but lives in Paris, said. “It’s important because they were watching everything on the television. Coming to this spot is for the memory of it.”
“I want them to remember this.”
Norbert Moudjeb brought his children to pay tribute as "it's important to remember these people". pic.twitter.com/hbqztZ8THF— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
While his children lost interest in the conversation, playing with a matchbox from the grocery bag, Moudjeb continued.
“We told the kids that this is a very sad weekend. It’s a sad Friday night. People were out and about to have dinner, to eat, to get a drink. They lost their lives for nothing. We have to make sure to remember these people.”
An “enormous amount” needs to be done, he added, saying that the government has to find a way to react before similar things happen.
Norbert laying flowers with his children Enzo and Diya near Bataclan. pic.twitter.com/H22wUiT2XM— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
Elsewhere across the city, at the sites that were targeted by marauding gunmen in cars, other children were laying flowers and joining their parents in reflection. Outside the Cambodian restaurant Le Petit Cambodge, a young boy in a helmet laid tea lights while his mother held his scooter.
Paying tribute at Le Petit Cambodge. pic.twitter.com/yxRFdJzZ8n— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
At the bottom of the statue of Marianne at Place de la Republique, meanwhile, another boy Lucas, aged seven and a half, had left a drawing with a simple message: "Gunshots forbidden!!!!"
By Lucas, aged 7 1/2 pic.twitter.com/qLwkciRJps— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
The sun was shining on the colourful and hopeful artworks in the famous square Sunday morning and the canals around the 10th and 11th arrondissement started flowing with people once more. Life in the affected parts of the city seemed to be starting to get back to normal.
Sunday morning on Place de la Republique. pic.twitter.com/NhRNkeGqeb— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
The canals in Paris are busier this morning. Couples taking selfies, tourists struggling with maps. pic.twitter.com/lPjHpOcHqh— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
However, the scars from Friday were still visible across a city that hasn't managed to clean up. Some scenes seemed frozen in time from halfway through Friday night.
Stacked tables behind smashed glass at the brasserie. pic.twitter.com/ojRX6LPiyH— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
Tributes and tape outside the untouched launderette opposite Casa Nostra. pic.twitter.com/RXRDLpJfYw— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
Laying tributes outside Casa Nostra, still untouched since Friday. pic.twitter.com/Nh5bDNH4tD— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
Florists were doing a booming trade, with queues of people lining up to buy flowers to lay down. The attacks of Friday were so scattered, haphazard and spread out that there have been multiple focus points for the disaster.
Two stalks sticking out from a bullet hole in Le Carillon bar and restaurant promised hope among the agony.
Flowers placed in bullet holes at Le Carillon. pic.twitter.com/oA8DyiwEuS— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
Elsewhere, signs for counselling services adorned walls and lamp posts among the tributes. Just as people rushed to give blood on Saturday, and provide rooms to those who need them, they're offering an ear to witnesses of the horror.
Sign advertising counseling services for anyone who witnessed attacks, outside Le Carillon. pic.twitter.com/6dIL8Yz77q— Tim Chester (@timchester) November 15, 2015
It will take a long time, but the healing process has begun in earnest.