10/06/2025
– You’re falling behind schedule, suddenly resounded a voice from behind.
Beside him sat down gently an older angel, gray-haired, touching him lightly with his wing.
– I simply don’t know what to do with her anymore, whispered the younger one, in despair.
The elder unfolded a file that appeared out of nowhere and read:
– Mrs. Valeria Vladimirovna, 36 years old.
Unrealized literary and artistic potential. The chances of a happy marriage and of two twin sons — also missed.
The young one sighed:
– She wants nothing. She should be writing children’s stories and painting illustrations. Instead, she’s a lawyer in a big firm. She hates the work, but goes there with the stubbornness of a ram. She’s afraid of losing money, though she wastes it only on business suits she cannot stand. She bought a central apartment, but sees it only at night, when she comes to sleep.
– If she gave it all up and started doing what she loves, within a year she would earn the same money. She would live by the sea, where a plump red cat awaits her — the one she has dreamed of since childhood. And the love story is the same — her destined one has been waiting there for five years already. He even found a kitten and raised it, as if preparing to welcome her.
The elder rubbed his bald head:
– Did you send her dreams to inspire her? Did you arrange the right meetings?
– Dreams, advertisements for drawing courses, literary contests… She deletes everything without reading. Even the meeting with that man was almost set up: he came here to visit a friend. But she walked right past him, phone at her ear — talking about a client, murmured the young one, embarrassed.
– Well, it’s time for more radical methods, said the elder thoughtfully.
The morning began with a call from her boss:
– In half an hour you’re on a plane. There are problems at the southern branch; if you solve them, you’ll get a bonus. If you fail, expect a reprimand.
A few hours later, Valeria was standing on the seafront of a southern city, breathing in the salty air. She was ready to turn toward the branch when a cyclist, noticing her too late, crashed straight into her. The woman fell from the steps into the water — and only the man who rushed to save her prevented a tragedy.
That evening, her boss called with reproaches for not showing up at work. Then, with a headache and tears, Valeria poured out, for the first time in many years, all her burdens. And she was left unemployed.
On a branch of the tree beneath the hospital window, the elder said:
– Do you think she has nowhere to run?
– No, the shock will stop her needless thoughts. And her destined one already understands — don’t you see how he comes every day with mandarins? smiled the elder.
– And what about her creativity? asked the young one.
– Tomorrow the roommate will be discharged and will forget an album with pencils in the nightstand. That’s when it will all begin, said the elder, satisfied, rubbing his hands.
Text by Tatiana Țîbuleac.
