Your G-string replaces my guitar string.
by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2017
Author Archives: Tetiana Aleksina
Come Unto Me (based on a true story)
I feasted my eyes upon the gorgeous frescoes that adorned the ceiling one more time, then turned to the exit. When I reached the wide doorway, I saw that today (to my great surprise) the forecasters had been right. There was a heavy rain.
Of course, I hadn’t taken an umbrella. Who can properly enjoy walking around one of the most splendid European capitals with unnecessary stuff in hand? One hand is for my camera, another hand is for ice-cream cones. A third is not a given.
I turned around with the intention of going back into the church and waiting out the storm. No such luck. A stodgy man in a black robe blocked the passage. In answer to my wordless question he pointed to the notice board. It stated that the canonical hour would be starting soon, so I went out to the big porch in the rain. There was no choice.
The porch was quickly filling up with people. The rear pushed at the front, perplexed as to why they would stand out in the downpour and not enter. Toward them moved ‘exiles’ like me who had been turned out of the building. A sullen acolyte stood at the centre of this live whirlpool like a hard-shelled bouncer at a night club doorway. It looked like no one was fitting the dress code for this private party today.
I lifted my face to the grey sky and inhaled the heavy, wet air. Some huge raindrops fell on my cheek. I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. There’s always choice.
I covered my head with a leaflet detailing the schedule of canonical hours, and ran to a bar opposite the church. Thank god these sanctuaries are always willing to embrace and warm the sick and suffering. Amen.
by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2017
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TATI’S TRANSLATIONS // Icicles by Sudeep Sen
Cold blast from an electric vent bites my skin — this comfortable discomfort, prickling my pores bathed in an acrid glaze, transforms to frozen gold-salt.
Attaining instant freezing points might be a rare marvel of science; I like this hellishly good blast that shakes all the embedded molecules in my bones —
bones that are parched in heat, turn to skeletal icicles — a beautiful ballerina-geography of stalactites and stalagmites — each needle-end points towards the other
like the two longing fngertips in Michelangelo’s painting at the Sistine Chapel — desiring a touch.
Струя холодного воздуха, выползающая из вентиляционной решетки, жалит мою кожу. Ласковые крошечные клыки вонзаются в мои поры, впрыскивая ядовитое желе, которое моментально превращается в солоноватые золотистые кристаллы.
Крионика – одно из чудес науки; мне нравится этот маленький атомный взрыв, встряхивающий каждую клетку моих костей.
Мой скелет, сожженный радиацией, превращается в минеральную окаменелость. Мои ребра вытягиваются, словно ноги искусной балерины в батмане; мои кости растут навстречу друг другу, как сталактиты и сталагмиты;
как кончики пальцев на фреске Микеланджело в Сикстинской капелле в их отчаянном и неосуществимом желании соприкоснуться.
Poem by SUDEEP SEN
Translation by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2017
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Six Word Stories #25
Eugene (P.S.)
Hullo, dearest Writers and Readers,
It’s Tati. (Yeah, I’m still here and can speak too. Shocking news, isn’t it?)
Usually I prefer to stay backstage at Unbolt Me, hiding in my cozy, dark corner and letting Tony shine onstage to bask in the warmness of your love. But please, don’t think I’m indifferent to what happens here. I do care.
You can be sure that every day I open WP Admin with bated breath and fingers crossed. I bite my nails, in a state, wondering if you’ll love our newest post or hate it. I read every single comment. Do you still read and support us? Do you still want us here?
Well… Honestly, when I was writing ‘Eugene’ I didn’t expect such great feedback. I thought it was just another story, just the next post on Unbolt Me. I was wrong.
Let me wholeheartedly thank all of you for every like, comment, and reblog. I felt your emotions and was truly moved by your sincere concern. That’s why I decided to write this post. I thought it would be churlish of me to keep you in the dark about this story. I decided to lift the curtain over ‘Eugene’ and answer some of the questions that were brought up in the comments section.
Okay, so here we are…
Q: What I want to say to you I’m not sure you’d take well so I’m not saying it.
A: Hmmm… Why not, Crystal? Please, don’t hold it inside. I promise not to bite you.
Q: Great story, true, or not, or ‘based on’…
A: Dear Alli, this is a real story. I adorned it with some artistic details, but you can be sure that all characters and events are entirely true.
Q: You can’t leave us hanging like that! Did you meet him again?
A: Yes, Tanushka. I saw Eugene a couple of times after this. Once I saw how he walks. It really drags at the heartstrings. He’s so stripped to the bone, so weak. I doubt he can even stand without his crutches, not to mention walk.
Q: Did you ever speak to the man again?
A: Unfortunately no, Cher. I wanted to stop, but something prevented me every time. In the last few weeks Eugene hasn’t been sitting in his usual place—I think because it’s getting colder. I hope to meet him again.
Q: I hope Eugene keeps doing his embroidery for a long time.
A: Dear Kat and Ellie, I sincerely hope he will! He has a splendid talent.
Q: I’m sure Eugene is an inspiration for many people.
A: Katharine, I’m with you on this. At the very least, he inspired me to write this story. And it looks like it has inspired many people who have read this story. It makes me so happy!
Q: Maybe Eugene is a supernatural geezer as well.
A: I can bet, Artie, that he is!
P.S. The photo of Eugene in the original post was my own. I was a bit too shy to take it openly, even after we’d had a conversation. I stepped aside, pretended to look for something in my phone, and took some sneaky shots like a coward. Sorry, Eugene.
by TETIANA ALEKSINA
© All rights reserved 2017
unbolt me 