I died. Right when I wanted, that is, before those I love. Yes, it would've been hard for me. Funerals, memorial services. We're a big family. I made sure they were alright, settled all my accounts, helped the poor, prayed in all churches. I loved my neighbor, too. A bit too much and too often, but sex counts as love, too, right? And look at me now. In an empty room, alone, with stones on my back and flames burning half my body. I heard if I repent, I have a chance to get to Heaven. Still waiting. Suck it, Dante.
(Translated by Eleonora Manea / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)
Versiunea în română a acestui text se poate citi aici, în rubrica Ficţiuni Reale.