9 votes

And They Wished to Never Wake Up

— Are we dreaming? — She asked.

— I don't know, my dear. I really don’t know. — He answered.

— It feels real.

— Yeah, it does.

— Look how old we are! Isn't that crazy?

— Not really. — He says while putting his arm on her shoulder. She calms down for a moment.

— Yeah, but I thought... Well, I thought something, but everyone probably thinks the same. It’s silly.

— What did you think?

— I thought we’d be different. Old, sure, but perky, wise, matured from adventure. Something noble like that. But no. We’re the same, but older. — She shakes her flaccid arms and looks both marveled and terrified by the loose skin wiggling back and forth.

He adjusts his glasses.

— Sometimes, when I remain silent to appear profound, I’m surprised by the indigence of my thoughts. I may look like Aristotle himself while I try to remember what I ate for lunch. It’s hard to make inwards the theater we make for others.

— But, after all, when have you become so old?

— To tell you the truth, I don’t even know how we got here.

— It’s weird: despite the complete darkness, we can see everything clearly. And there’s no place to rest my legs.

— Sit here on the ground. Beside me. Put your head on my lap. — He gently caresses her head, trying to ignore his surprise with her white hairs.

— I’d be nothing without you. But I’m ashamed to say that I don’t remember your name.

— I might be offended, but I don’t remember yours either. — He smiles.

— Are we close to wake up? This old body is getting on my nerves.

— Of course, my love. This is a dream, but no more than everything else. Time is a nightmare from which we never wake up, and old age is punishment for those that refuse to die.

— Don’t talk nonsense. This will go away in a minute. We’ll wake up young and beautiful, as always. As I remember you, and as you remember me. Everything will be fine. — She says that with forced certainty as if trying to convince herself.

— You’re right. The nightmare will end soon, and we’ll be back to our bodies.

— ... This conversation tired me. Good night, my love. — She pushes her head against his thigh.

— Good night, my angel.

And they wished to never wake up.

2 comments

  1. [2]
    Grendel
    Link
    I love it. It's wonderful how much feeling you are able to communicate in such a short piece, which is the mark of a good writer. This was beautifully and very poetically written.

    I love it. It's wonderful how much feeling you are able to communicate in such a short piece, which is the mark of a good writer. This was beautifully and very poetically written.

    4 votes
    1. mrbig
      Link Parent
      Thanks! We have a great crônica and short-story tradition in Brazil. My style is mostly derived from Luís Fernando Veríssimo [1], especially his fantastic stories, Ingmar Bergman, and, more...

      Thanks! We have a great crônica and short-story tradition in Brazil. My style is mostly derived from Luís Fernando Veríssimo [1], especially his fantastic stories, Ingmar Bergman, and, more recently, Todd Solondz.

      Being concise is natural to me — my parents are both old-school journalists, my entire life is permeated by the desire to be concise, and that includes spoken communication. This is great for short stories, long-form not so much. I may be too concise to ever write a novel hahaha

      [1] The difference, in my case, is that I'm usually more dry and pessimistic. And I almost always flirt with fantasy, while LFV is usually a lot more realistic.

      2 votes