The audience is gone. He's the only one in the middle of the stage, kneeling as if in prayer, and looking out into the empty auditorium. He sees himself small, buried in his armchair, staring wide-eyed at the wonder in front of him. For years and years he laughed, he cried, he got upset, he felt overjoyed. With him on the floor, and them on the stage. But today, he was up here. And he brought everyone into his story. The audience is gone. He's the only one in the middle of the stage, kneeling as if in prayer. Thank you, God, for teaching me the magic of comforting souls.
Radu Gramatovici
The professor lowered himself into the armchair, not even the energy of the ancient symbols engraved into the back could brighten his mood. His assistant came over with a plant stew. Youngsters these days don't learn anything. Not a thing! snapped the professor. They only want fast results, without a hint of effort. But sir, his assistant shily dared to say, your class is called How to reach sublime happiness in 3 days. After 7 lifetimes of work, yelled the professor, 7 lifetimes! Why won't anyone read the complete title?
Dan Banu
The man bent over to listen to her heart. It wasn't beating. He wanted to check her breathing and that's when he noticed the dwarves. As tiny as a nail. The first one sat on his haunches, slithered beneath one of her eyelids, looked around inside for a bit, then opened her mouth like you would a castle's gate. He gestured for the others to get in. They came out carrying something as fluffy as a cloud. We have to fix up this soul, said the tall one. Stay by her side and hold her hand, we'll be back soon. He closed his eyes and rubbed them hard. When he opened them, the girl blinked.
(Translated by Bianca Ioana Prisecaru / 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 Ficțiuni Reale.