We met each other too late. You were already married. You said you were sorry, no biggie, I wasn't ready either. We saw each other again 5 years later, Jesus, I've missed you, I've been divorced for a year, but tomorrow I'll get married. There's enough time, surely we'll meet again. 10 years later we bumped into each other at the hospital, me with my leg in a cast, you were getting your prenup. I've missed you so much, but what a shame, we've always had bad timing. Today, you're finally single. You face is clear and you are smiling peacefully. I'm happy to see you again. Ever since I've been working at the funeral home, I've never had a happier night.
Iulia Biró
The evening came. I was sitting on the left of the aisle, listening to music, watching people. Across the aisle, on a two-seat bench, facing me, was her, with a book by Ishiguro in her right hand and an apple in her left. She felt my gaze. She looked straight at me, over the book. She smiled. Still looking at me, she took another bite of her apple. I saw everything: autumns with reading and fog, nights together, two or three children, holidays, 30 year anniversary in Rome. She got off at the first stop, I didn't. It was late, I was tired.
Siranuș Hakobian
Mihaela, if you have dimples in your cheeks, brown curls, 40 kilograms, a mole under your left breast and were at Michael Jackson's concert, please call me. It's me, the boy you met at the concert and then later in your room in Grozăvești student campus. You must call me, it's time we get to know each other better. You won't be sorry, I'm healthy as a bull and I've gathered some curd too: half of it, the other half I lost in the divorce. I forgot to tell you. I got divorced a month ago and the children are grown up and out of the house.
(Translated by Raluca Sălcianu / 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.