The professor failed the whole class. He came into the room, took attendance and told us to leave. He made himself scarce. Another teacher came in, the course changed and we went on with our lives, each as we saw fit. Later, we found out that he hadn't actually failed all of us. One of my classmates, Ana, got the highest mark, even though she hadn't even attended. They say that it was her absence that convinced the teacher that the night before she had taught herself the whole course better than he ever had, but I don't know if it's true.
George Dometi
The immaculate tablecloth betrays the septic atmosphere in the room. Small, round, white, numbered soup plates sit on other small, round, white, numbered plates. Next to a stack of larger, clean, white, numbered steak plates are small, white, numbered dessert plates. The beige neon light has a moderate intensity. In a cage, on a chair, a woman with red glasses and a grey notebook. The session begins in 3, 2. On the soundproof door is written Couples Therapy by Porcelain Smashing.
Yuka Brevi
God, life is beautiful. Trust what I'm telling you now, you'll see. At some point, you'll meet the right person. That person won't be late for appointments, will always welcome you with a smile, will listen to you no matter how hard it is, without interrupting you. That person won't read the phone messages in front of you. Will serve you coffee or tea, and will be sure to have a warm, fluffy couch. No need to despair. You just have to be patient and about 200 lei per session.
(Translated by Andreea Ciubuc / 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.