Bag hopping on his back, Codruț rested by the stream. His little hands dipped into the cold mountain water. He took out the loaf of bread and split it in two. The remaining piece he wrapped in a cloth. He caressed the weather-yellowed seams. In the shimmer of the water he saw his mother's face and heard her voice. The world isn't endless, my dear boy. I'm going away in a while. To the ends of the earth, to find my father, my grandmother and my grandfather. When he unplugged the machines, the doctor knew by his smile that they'd met again.
Florentina Ghițescu
Where is the end of the world? If I knew where the end of the world was, I'd go there for you. If I was very close to the end of the world, let's say about three kilometres from the end of the world, could I say that I would go to the end of the world for you? How much would a lot or enough be to impress you? If I lived at the end of the world, could you come all the way out here for me? Everything is relative in this world. According to time and space. The reference is my love for you.
Nicolae Popescu
Pricop picks up his backpack. All he has is a bottle of water and ten sheets of medicine, but it feels like he's carrying a rock on his shoulders. A pain shivers in his hunched back. How much longer, Vera? Well, don't you remember? Fifty years ago you used to fly to my village. Pric let out a sigh: I had an interest. Now there are no more willows, only the potholes are the same, I think that's the same mayor. Oh, you wanted an initiatory travel, couldn't we have celebrated our golden wedding under the blanket watching that Netflic? Vera smiles, takes him by the hand and they walk forward slowly, shoulder to shoulder.
(Translated by Ioana Levîrdă / 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.