Ikigai

Mona Zelenco
We, grains of sand sifted through the sieve of destiny, slip chaotically and try to make sense of it all, stumbling through the threads of life and daring to lift our eyes to the stars. In our naivety, we build, destroy, love, hate, learn, or pass across the stage without leaving a trace. In this bleak scenario, fragments of joy help us take each daily step toward the grand finale. And yet, there is a singular moment, a connection, an explosion of love, beauty, and immortality, when a mother holds her newborn to her chest. In that moment, life is woven with new meaning.
 
 Dorin Vasile
I was pierced by ideals, but above all, by her cold, black, indifferent eyes. The commander of the Pioneer detachment. I was a nobody to her, an anonymous figure lined up for the daily report. Until I stuttered during roll call with the Present Dumb Ones. She turned me to stone with a single stare. Then came the sanction of implacable justice. She assigned me to organize the paper collection drive. I reported back with enthusiasm and ended up genuinely believing that, through collective effort, we would overcome the global toilet paper crisis. Thanks to her, in a way, I found my purpose.
 
 Octavia Buhociu
I used to go to bed dissatisfied with the day that had passed. I want to make a change in my life and of those around me. Since I'm a commuter and we're packed together for 30-40 minutes, each way, most of us with our eyes glued to our phones, I thought I might become the reader of a book, poems, short stories (something around 500 characters, some write). At first, probably only a few around me will listen, then, I hope, a few more. It's a reason to wake up in the morning with joy, at least.


(Translated by Diana Gabriela Radu / University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I / Corrected by Silvia Petrescu, coordinator of the translations)