He was living in a filthy, crammed studio apartment so I took him to my place. His shoes were worn out so I bought him new ones. I encouraged him to develop professionally, I paid for all kinds of courses, even for college. After he became a manager and started earning good money, he left me; he said we were headed down different paths. After the break-up he met an actress that squandered all of his money. Now he's drinking his life away in a filthy studio apartment, waiting for a woman to save him.
Marius Stan
I came across her by chance, on Facebook. She had a different last name now and two grown children, each with their own homes. Back in high school, she was beautiful, had a faint smile and a slightly hoarse voice, like that of a cabaret singer. We exchanged messages on Facebook for a few months and then we met, at my request. She hugged me formally, like you would an honoured guest. She told me I looked nice, that I hadn't changed. It was as if a distorted image of her was speaking in her stead. When we parted, she squeezed my hand tightly. Only the scratch of twilight was left behind.
Alex Caragian
I was surprised to find out that she likes to sleep like I do. On her back and with her eyes closed. We met very late, we were both dead. We dug ourselves up, started recomposing and un-aging ourselves. She got un-pregnant. Little by little we got to un-know each other more and more. Then we fell out of love, because the best things in the life of a couple that stands the test of time happen after love fades away. Then, we lived together, in an embrace, far apart from each other, like to yet unborn strangers.
(Translated by Bogdan Nicola / 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.