They met in the lobby of the Opera House. He was accompanied by a former colleague of hers. They exchanged a few looks and pleasantries. When they met again, by chance, he recognized her immediately. He invited her for a coffee at a small secluded restaurant nearby. The atmosphere was completely different from what he had imagined. Cosy and soft, it was luring you in the world of music lovers. Schumann's Carnival, performed by Rubinstein, you wouldn't have thought it was the right music, but next to him nothing was usual. Not even the silence.
Gabriel Rusu
Silent steps through flooded trenches. Captain Pandele's speech. For the reunification of the country, boys, we will fight to the death. They shall not pass. The crunch of the bayonet freshly caught in the barrel of the rifle. Quick heartbeats tore through his chest. The decisive moment. Artillery tracers shake the world to its foundations. A whistle that announces the beginning of the assault. Everyone stepping over dead bodies. He jumps out of bed in fright again and goes to the window. With trembling hands, he grabs a glass of water. The same nightmare.
Denisse Oana Rădoi
The soundtrack of my first love was the one from Titanic film. Just like the ship, it sinked without arriving to any destination. My second love was born and killed in the same night, accompanied by a song from Nightlosers. It was called Pretty Thing and it was about a wedding ring. The beginning of my depression was marked by Linkin Park. While the lead singer was committing suicide, I also tried to end my life. I didn't succeed. But I couldn't listen to music ever again.
(Translated by Constantin Grigorescu / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)
Versiunea în română a acestui text se poate citi aici, în rubrica Ficțiuni Reale.