On 17 March, 2020, France implemented its first nationwide lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus. What followed was a two-month period of strict confinement, mandatory mask-wearing, curfews and university closures. While the pandemic took a psychological toll on almost everyone, the lasting impact on young people has been severe.
In a bar in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, Maya orders an espresso. Five years ago, during the first Covid-19 lockdown, meeting like this in a café would have been impossible.
