“Memory” by Eli Bertotti Wandering along the river, Ann was deeply involved in her thoughts. She could still remember clearly when almost twenty years ago, her life changed forever. Every day, Ruth, Ann´s little sweet daughter, used to wait for the news about her father who was very ill in hospital owing to the fact that he suffered from cancer. Her grief, however, was noiseless and without the least expression because she was very shy, her quiet ways reflected laziness of character, she thought it was best not to say anything, she stood still and confused. Ann, her mother, had promised to take her there when her father improved; there are no words to describe how that mother loved that child. One sunny morning in May, a beautiful day, Ruth was playing in the garden that was full of flowers. Flowers which were sweet-smelling with colors that shone like the sun shines in spring.
And there were the most delicate birds which perched on the
greenest trees and sang delightfully. Suddenly… -“Ruth, Ruth…” her mother beckoned to her with a big smile, “your father is better, he told me that he wanted to see you”, her mother added with relief. Ruth, without uttering a word, rushed off to her house and took her father’s portrait which was hanging on the damaged dark wall of her bedroom, and looking at him with her soft eyes of love, started to kiss it. She was completely blissful, in heaven. Three hours later, Ruth arrived at the hospital with splendid happiness, she sauntered down the bleak hospital corridors, while her mind cherished the precious moments she had enjoyed with her father. She swiftly spotted the room number, opened the wheezy door and suddenly found her father`s room absolutely empty, absolutely desolate, absolutely miserable as if never had her father stayed there. Scarcely breathing she repeated to herself -“Where is my father? “The nurse informed her that her father had died one hour ago. Ruth began to shake. While having difficulty breathing she looked at the nurse with terror in her eyes and
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immediately began to cry and, at the same time, even though it was really cold, she began to sweat excessively. It seemed like she was going to faint. Ruth looked worse; her mother took her hands in hers and squeezed them hard, as if the truth could be wrung out of her daughter using physical pressure. But Ruth looked at her with wistful eyes and tears streamed down her cheeks as all her body trembled. Her mother took her and sat on the sofa which was next to the door and asked the nurse to be with Ruth. Ann went out of the bedroom, took the pill that the Doctor had given her and when she came back to the bedroom she realized Ruth was sound asleep.
Not having had the possibility to mourn her husband, Ann felt a great grief,
grief that was too much to resist; she did not want Ruth to see her in that terrible condition. After some minutes, Ann sat next to Ruth, she bent over the child gazing at her, and she whispered in her gentle and unsteady voice -“God is taking care of him , -my lovely Ruth, wake up, wake up”. But it was too late, because never again could Ruth open her sweet eyes. “The unexpected night” by Valeria Olivera It was just one more lonely night. Nevertheless, I was not alone at all because from time to time a passenger got into my comfortable, cold, dark sedan, “my ship” as I used to call it... and we chatted till we reached his or her destination. The sad reality was that I felt miserable. All the same, it was something I was unfortunately getting used to since I didn´t know how to face that my love for Jude vanished beneath the waves of my uneventful life. All of a sudden, I caught sight of a figure gleaming under the streetlight in the deserted boulevard... she fluttered her slim arm to make me stop my dreary boat at once. And when I stared at the smooth skin of her face, I had a nice tickle on my whole body. Her eyes were as blue as the sea, and her hair was made of gold, and her mouth was like a delicious fresh strawberry. And when I listened to her lovely voice, I, Ulysses, had the sensation that it was the best song I`ve ever heard in my life!
“To Marvel Street, please”— she shyly whispered. I was so amazed that I could not even pronounce a single word. I could hear the rustle of her dress as she got into my ship and as a wave breaks, she broke, as she sat down, spreading and splashing, covering me with her lingering aroma of fruity beaches. Suddenly I perceived that a black drop was trickling down over her rose-flavoured cheek... “What´s wrong?”—I timidly asked. She gazed at me for a while and then she burst into tears. I stopped my car and I invited her to drink something in a bar that was opposite us and, lucky me, she accepted. I beckoned the waiter to ask for a coffee but as I listened to her order I instantly changed my mind. “A Martini, please”—she said. “Two Martinis, please”—I rectified. “My boyfriend has cheated on me. I saw him holding and kissing another girl”—she cried. I didn´t want to be impolite so I didn´t start telling her about my “empty life”. I just remained there, in my comfortable role as “her listener”. Don´t ask me how, but after an hour we were both laughing, recalling our childhood mischiefs, sharing life experiences, talking about art, culture, politics (though I don´t like politics) and, what is more: having fun and forgetting about our problems! Taking advantage of such situation, I anxiously inquired: “Would you like something to eat? I´m hungry!” “Sure!”—she exclaimed with a sweet smile—“I`m starving!” We went to a restaurant I had never seen before. It was at a great distance but I didn´t care since that was the discrete place she had chosen. As we crossed the door, she opened her eyes as if she had seen a ghost! And there they were: her wicked boyfriend and his unscrupulous lover. Having taken the decision to leave the place, I caught a brief glimpse of the woman´s face just as she scarcely
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turned round and I realized that “that” unscrupulous woman was Jude, my girlfriend! I was shocked! I couldn´t believe my eyes! However, I didn´t feel that the world came down on me. Certainly, it fitted me like a glove for she was the gloomy reason of my pessimistic life and besides, I was accompanied by the most marvellous woman I`d ever met. We managed to escape so as not to be seen and that was the last time we saw them. A white lie by Cynthia Álvarez Old Payne shambled forcelessly along the damp grey corridor of his unattractive wooden house, as he squinted at the yellowish photo of his only daughter which still remained intact on the stony fireplace. He lived with his fourteen-year old grandson named Darien, as Payne’s daughter and her husband had surprisingly disappeared when their ship was wrecked during a fierce thunderstorm. So, since Darien was as helpless as a newborn bird, old Payne took care of him. Payne was now in his seventies and his hump, his memory loss and his unkempt appearance made him look even older. However, Darien was as cool as a cucumber in his early teens and anxious to live his life as his granddad had taught him, with the simplicity of the wise. As usual, after doing the washing up, Darien started tidying the kitchen, and to his surprise, he came upon the aprons with green spots he had been looking for steadily. They were the ones he and his granddad wore when they baked bread. He smiled as the thought of those funny days came to his mind, the days in which the then spanking new apron reached his heels… _ “Will you teach me how to bake bread, granddad?” He insisted persistently every day… _ “We´ll bake bread when your apron does not trail along the ground” his granddad said laughing loudly. Darien was filled with excitement the day he was able to help his granddad in the kitchen. During those years, the smell of fresh baked bread would invade the cozy kitchen, and the warm living room, and the distant bedroom and the ancient attic.
Then, silently and with care, Darien put the aprons into the mahogany drawer just as the clock struck four. At that time, he took the basket to pick the apples for his granddad´s compote. His footsteps, crunching on the shady path lined with trees, took him far away in time, when they would wander peacefully through the greenish fields where the shrill whistle of the wind could be softly perceived and the smell of wet soil filled the air before storms. Later, at five o´clock sharp, Darien and his granddad shared a nice cup of white tea. Darien sipped the hot white tea. The same tea he used to have at school, the same tea that he himself had once spilt over his outstanding school report…. Darien was truly his granddad´s pride and joy. He had a great childhood because of his granddad’s commitment and immense affection. Naturally, years passed by and Payne´s life was drawing near his time. Day after day, Payne’s health was getting worse and worse. The more he contemplated his granddad, the more hopeless he felt. At dusk, Payne found the strength to sit down on his bed and started to murmur a few words. _A..A…A Druen…I ne ed you to to make me e
t w o favours … he stuttered
almost imperceptibly while his pale hands fluttered restlessly about over the sheets. _Of course, granddad...I will do as you please, tell me…_ Darien sighed nervously . Stunned, Darien urgently did what the old man had desperately asked for. His first wish consisted of one brief phone call. Had he been told to make a wish, Darien would have asked for a reasonable explanation for the elderly man’s request. Only a few hours had passed since he dialled the phone number; when out of the blue, a middle-aged woman turned up in the house. She looked troubled and dismayed as if she had seen a ghost. Darien and the woman stared at each other for a while, although neither of them mumbled a word. Finally, Darien and the unknown woman reached the bed as granddad had ordered and it was time for his second request. -No now…my boooy..O ppenn that draweerr..ope een the enn vveolppe annd read itt..myy boy …_ the old man sighed while his heart beats became weaker and weaker. Sadly, those were his last words. Tears started rolling down Darien’s cheeks, his soul
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was overcome with grief, he could feel a lump in his throat but he still had to do his granddad’s will. The letter had been written a long time ago and it began like this: Dear grandson, You came to me as pure as an angel, I can remember that day. I fell absolutely in love with you as soon as I held you in my arms. You were an angel… So innocent, so full of life, so sweet… that all I tried to do was making you happy… I don’t know what will happen to me in ten or twenty years’ time…Now you are three years old ...you are discovering the world.. But in case you need protection, I am writing this letter to you. Sorry, my boy, because I lied to you. Your parents did not disappear on a ship, they abandoned you at my doorway and the woman standing next to you, is my daughter, your mother. I hope you understand this fool old man. Love, Payne.