I was wearing new lingerie, from Victoria's Secret. Let's see, what's the big secret? White, of course, not red or black, those are Stendhal colours that any woman can wear. No, a man dreams of his woman in white, like a bride with her dress cut off in haste. He was sitting down and mooving his lips as if ready to let out a word. He was not allowed to speak. What's that? H. Hmm. O. Oven? T. Ohh. The phone. It's ringing, wait a second. It was Lori. Hi, girlfriend. Oh, nothing, just lazing around. Of course we can talk. So tell me, since I missed it last night, what did Suleiman do?
Dorin Vasile
The way to her heart curbs, unexpectedly, into meanders. Two days ago she acted like an Amazonian, yesterday was cut-out lingerie day. I think all of my rivals pointed it out here and there. When it's my turn, she bowls me over with a fist to the kidney and an upercut sends me to the ground. I don't get to find out today's theme. She wants me to believe that the game is already lost. Then she looks at me in a mix of colours. Her smile restores my hope every morning. Even if there are decades between us. Maybe the woman of my dreams hasn't been born yet.
Iulia Stavre
The pain tasted like memories. In the desolate house, the emptiness hit the walls, echoing. She had one week to empty out her grandparents' house. To sort out their lives, their clothes, books, furniture, flowers, kitchen vases, knickknacks, electronics. She'll keep some stuff. The rest will remain in her heart, forever. In grandpa's office she found a manuscript. After reading it in one sitting, she sent it to a publishing house. She's running to the library. At the launch, she will speak on behalf of the author. Emotions come and go. Breathe.
(Translated by Alina Bâznă / 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.