It's hard for me to talk to you about Anthony. It's hard because in a mother's eyes, our children are the most precious and beautiful things we have. As I try to introduce you to Anthony, memories appear and rush through my mind. I carried my son for 9 months, and a very strong emotional bond was formed between us. Anthony was born on May 16, 1991, in Libourne (France - Gironde). What a joy to finally discover his little face! He was, for me and his dad, the most beautiful baby in the world. With him, we experienced the true meaning of the word 'parent' and for me, the word 'mom.' I rocked him, I caressed him, I held him in my arms, I breastfed him, I spoke to him tenderly. All these moments allowed us to get closer, to trust each other, and to strengthen that emotional bond. He is the older brother of twin sisters, Camille and Chloé, who would join the family 6 years later. He was a cheerful, smiling, hungry baby, a little bit fussy (breath-holding spells).

He always had a smile glued to his face. He was dreamy, sometimes absent-minded, like wearing slippers to school or forgetting his backpack. We also loved Sunday afternoons when he was around 4 or 5 years old, listening to him sing the theme song of 'Walker, Texas Ranger'... in English! Or watching him play with his race cars while his dad watched a Formula 1 grand prix, circling the pool table with his toy train and making skids. I remember his first day of preschool, he went to play. The teacher asked us to quietly slip away, but at lunchtime when we picked him up, he wasn't happy because no one had said goodbye to him.

I also remember that for his third Christmas, he told us he heard Santa Claus's sleigh land on the roof of the house. He also loved spending hours in his room making up stories with his 'Action Man,' 'Power Rangers,' 'Ninja Turtles,' and more.

He enjoyed reading, watching cartoons, playing outside... I also remember his first trip to the cinema. It was for 'The Lion King.' We attended a special premiere screening with his soul uncle. He was very excited about it. Like all children, he was fascinated by the world of Disney. A few years later, it was his paternal uncle and his wife who treated the whole family to a trip to Disneyland Paris. The children came back amazed and full of memories, a delightful trip with their cousins.

Years later, Anthony and his sisters would relive this experience with their cousins, creating beautiful memories once again, etching them into their minds.

Anthony is the second of nine cousins with whom he would develop special relationships, unique to each one. He loved cracking jokes, telling stories. He enjoyed going on vacations with his sisters and cousins to his paternal grandparents' house. They cherished these moments together, laughing, watching video tapes, playing video games, swimming in the pool, and more. His first vacation in a foreign country was at the age of 4, accompanied by his grandparents, maternal uncle, and his wife, in Portugal. He was thrilled to see the Estoril circuit. He was also proud to show us his first snowflake medal that he had earned from a skiing trip with his paternal aunt.

He grew up steadily from preschool to middle school, always the same with his smile, kindness, jokes, sometimes inventive, often absent-minded. He enjoyed board games and comics such as Asterix and Obelix, Titeuf, Tintin, Gaston Lagaffe, Marvels, and Manga. He was considerate to everyone and especially to his two sisters, even though occasional bickerings would arise. He was always a protective older brother. He listened to them, made them laugh. They shared good times playing board games or video games, having movie nights, sleeping together in Anthony's room, preparing Sunday morning breakfasts, going for walks, and later going to the movies and restaurants.

As a child, Anthony tried his hand at soccer for a while. Later, he discovered judo in our village, Vayres, and it became his great passion, which he continued in another club in Beychac et Caillau, alongside his friends from school. This bond of friendship never wavered. Judo was a true revelation for him. He wanted to continue until he achieved his black belt. He earned his black belt and a second-degree black belt. He taught classes at the club and gave Tai Chi classes as well. He was working towards a sports educator diploma with a focus on Judo and Jujitsu. He was well-liked by his instructors and his students.

Anthony completed his BAFA (French certificate for youth activity leaders). He enjoyed interacting with children, loved creating games, and often asked his father to help design them. His father was a bookbinder by trade. Anthony obtained his middle school diploma, followed by his BAC STI (Mechanical Engineering), and a BTS MAI (Mechanical and Industrial Automation).

Anthony loved traveling. His first trip was to Amsterdam with his friends, and then he explored Australia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Indonesia, Peru, and Malaysia.

In 2014, Anthony decided to go to Australia, specifically Darwin, as a young male au pair to improve his English. He took care of two young children and engaged them in various playful activities that connected French and Australian cultures. He introduced the family to French language and cuisine, as he had a passion for cooking. He had the opportunity to spend a few nights with the Australian family on sacred lands with Aboriginal people, thanks to the mother's profession. On April 1st, he played a prank, stating that he had been expelled from Australia and posted a photo of himself in front of a "Lyon" sign on social media. Someone in our family fell for the joke, and we still laugh about it. He also posted a video for his birthday, keeping everyone in suspense. When he finally revealed his gift, it was a toothbrush. We used to call each other regularly because it was the first major separation the family experienced. Thanks to Skype, on Sundays at noon, we would have our meal in the company of Anthony, and during those times, we teased him with the desserts we were enjoying. He spent 6 months there and maintained contact with that family.

After his trip to Australia, Anthony developed a passion for viticulture and decided to pursue a BTS in Viticulture and Oenology through a work-study program.

He enjoyed cooking both savory and sweet dishes. We loved sharing photos of the cakes we made. The first cake he made as a teenager was a rum baba. He had a sweet tooth, and often when I made pancakes, he would show up at home. Sometimes, after his classes with the young samurais in Bègles on Saturdays, he would come over to have a meal with us. We cherished these family moments. We also enjoyed gathering on Sundays for meals, where Anthony introduced us to new board games, and for birthdays and holidays. He loved giving gifts as much as receiving them. Two months before Christmas, just like when he was a child, we would receive his wishlist for Santa Claus. We also liked going on bike rides together, and during those moments, he would open up to me. Those bike rides were our special moments. Sometimes, his sisters and his partner joined us for these rides. He would occasionally drop by unexpectedly just to say hello. I also enjoyed attending his Taiko classes virtually. We could discuss what I had managed to do or not, the intensity of the effort. We also enjoyed listening to concerts and talking about music. He liked introducing me to new music and new bands. Sometimes, he would come to us for advice. We might have disagreements, but we reconciled quickly. We needed to see each other, take care of one another, and simply be a united family.

Anthony was a person passionate about numerous things, such as cinema, video games, concerts, comedians, reading, and especially the education he was pursuing. He enjoyed gardening and even created a small vegetable garden, seeking advice from his maternal grandmother. He crafted cocktails, blending fruits and alcohol into his own infused rums. He enjoyed exploring new whiskies, a passion he shared with his father and paternal grandmother. Another shared passion with his grandmother was discovering new flavors of tea. He simply loved life.

For his thirtieth birthday, Anthony treated himself to a vintage car. He went to pick it up accompanied by his father. It was a passion his father was thrilled to share with his son. His father enjoyed helping him find parts for his little "Indi," the nickname Anthony gave to his car. Anthony also loved accompanying his father to car events, karting outings, enjoying moments together as guys.

Anthony was in a relationship with a radiant young woman who was his soulmate, his feminine counterpart. He met her while working as an animator. They shared the same passions for cinema, Disney, video games, music, walks, travels, and cooking. They had a strong bond, a zest for life, even though their strong personalities sometimes clashed. Petty arguments would arise occasionally, but they never lasted long. For instance, when they were building their wardrobe, making cakes, or creating a yule log for Christmas. They also knew how to surprise each other: planning trips to Disney, preparing breakfasts, carving sweet words onto fruits, leaving tender notes for each other, organizing surprise birthdays and Valentine's Day celebrations, or simply declaring their love. They had goals together ; buying their first home, traveling together and perhaps becoming parents themselves someday.

Anthony maintained a close-knit group of friends from his school days. They were very close and truly supportive of each other. They shared wonderful and meaningful moments together: parties, birthdays, weddings, and the birth of children for some. He became the "Uncle Pablo" for their children, a nickname given to him by his friends.