Debtors' Prison

Laura Stanciu
I haven't made up my mind yet, Dad. I am only thirty years old. It's not like I'm going to get married right now. Well, my boy, I'm only asking about your life so you wouldn't get involved with someone prematurely. I love your Mom, don't get me wrong, but I want to teach you how to stay out of troubles. Be careful not to make any mistakes. That's what I mean. Your actions could put you in prison. Meaning? She introduces you to her folks? Stay away. You tell her you love her? That's not good. What if she asks you to prove it to her? Do you start imagining having a family and kids with her? What if she rushes you? Keep your mouth shut, otherwise you'll sign up for a life of debt and won't be able to get away.

Ștefan Florian
I wake up facing the wall, knees against my chest, a deep emptiness inside. Aside from the bitter taste in my mouth, everything is numb. I no longer have the strength to want to break away. I drink my coffee, the coffee scratches my chest, I choose not to think about the palpitations. I prepare for my family a few fried eggs, I go out, I come back for the stamp, hello, yes, I can give you half next week, that guy keeps putting off paying me too, when are you going to pay me the rest, let's grab a coffee sometime. I return home feeling empty, watch the kid, I have a webinar. Dad, can we play? Tomorrow, dear, today I'm tired.
 
 George Dometi
At 9 years old, he had already straddled the pillow, when he felt it. He hadn't yet started, when his eyes fell on the face of the Savior, in the icon hung above the nightstand. Faith stopped him. Then, for three years, he lay in nocturnal repentance and prayers for strength. Until he saw a Eve without her leaves while leafing through his father's FHM. His morality stopped him. Then, another two years of penance and self-control out of stoicism. But his puritanism didn't last long. He confined himself between the four walls of self-pollution. He was bound, wasn't he?

(Translated by Andreea Teodorescu-Colciu / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)