September 2012
Deity.gr
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With an abrupt movement, Dimitris jumped up from his bed.
He noticed that he was soaked in sweat. A few minutes passed
until he realized what had happened. “What a dream” he
wondered.
He had dreamed that he had gotten old. His hair and beard
were white. Any sign of youth had disappeared from his body.
And he was alone. He had dreamt about his future. After
rubbing his eyes, he glanced at the clock on his bedside table.
It was time to get ready for work.
Dragging himself to the bathroom, he washed his face and
looked at his reflection in the mirror. It scared him to see how
much he resembled the old man he had seen in his dream. He
left quickly. Holding a cup of coffee, he sat at the kitchen table.
He attempted to take a sip, but the heat burnt his lips. His
mind was stil stuck on the image of the man aging alone. “I
have to not let this happen” he whispered while closing the
house door behind him.
Dimitris, at almost forty, was starting to panic. Loneliness was
wrapping around his neck like a snake, suffocating him day by
day. He constantly desired a love that would fil his empty life.
To get him out of the swamp he felt he was in and to put him
into heavenly pleasures. But as he desired it more and more, it
never came, causing him to sink into sadness and frustration,
which he fought with the hope that someday, somewhere,
sometime, life had a surprise ready for him. .
He hadn’t always been like that. There had been many women
in his life. Even though he wasn’t too handsome – he had
inherited his father’s hard features, he exerted charm on
women. Maybe because his mother’s sensibility was imprinted
in his eyes, which he tried unsuccessful y to hide behind the
elegant and strict suits of a successful lawyer. He hated that
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look. He hated her. He had never forgiven her the fact that he
had left him in his early teenage years for someone else.
Since then, he was afraid of women. Of their abandonment.
The only thing he asked from them was to suck out their
pubescence and, like a bee sucks the nectar from the flower
and then went to another, so did he leave for the next one. He
sucked out their youth or their experience and flew away. He
wasn’t interested in taking or giving anything else. He didn’t
want to share any other moments except moments of passion
and pleasure. He only wanted physical things. Feelings didn’t
matter. But now he felt different. .
He arrived at the office late. To move around in the overloaded
with cars streets of Athens wasn’t the most exciting thing. And
mostly on a stormy February morning. His secretary informed
him that his next appointment would be in two hours. When
he was alone, his mind went back to the dream that made him
jump up from his bed. Lost in his thoughts, he overheard the
knock on his door. Suddenly he saw Elena in front of him, as
she introduced herself a few minutes later. Dimitris offered
her a seat, asking her if she would like something to drink. But
Elena was in a hurry. In a hurry to talk, although she didn’t
have to say much for him to understand the reason behind her
visit. The bruise on her right eye, that she uncovered when she
took of her dark glasses, shading her beautiful blue eyes,
explained everything. Filing for divorce..
When Elena left his office, for the first time, Dimitris caught
himself thinking more about the client than about the case.
Her scent had fil ed the room and her presence his mind with
thoughts. Pleasant thoughts. The hard features in his face
smoothened. A few minutes were enough to make him happy.
Life had brought his desire to him. Her nicely shaped body that
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was covered by the warmth of a purple coat and the glow in
her eyes were stuck in his head for good. He started whistling
a cheerful tune, wondering how he hadn’t forgotten it and
asked his secretary to cancel al appointments for the day,
while the forty eight hours until the next appointment with
her felt like centuries.
His joy when she was sitting in front of him again was
unspeakable. They were talking for a long time. It was hard for
him to concentrate on the case. He was lost in her eyes. The
bruise had started healing and Elena had calmed down. The
only moment he took his gaze of her was the moment he
overenthusiastical y asked her to stay at his place, when she
revealed that she had left her house. But her answer
embarrassed him. She didn’t accept the offer to stay at his
place but offered they go out for dinner. The date was set for
Saturday. For the next three days, he neglected work like he
had never done before. At night he couldn’t sleep. Looking at
the ceiling, he imagined her body next to his. He constantly
wanted to clasp her, taste her lips, make love to her. Love not
sex. For the first time he could see the difference.
The big day came. In one hour he would be near her. He was
looking out from the living room window. As time went by, the
rain fell heavier. The streets were flooded. “Thankful y the
restaurant is near and I won’t be late” he thought. The ringing
sound of his cell phone came from the bedroom. He hurried to
get it but a few seconds later he realized that it was a message.
When he saw her name on the screen he smile. But the smile
froze when he read the message:
“Sorry. I won’t come. We talked it through with my husband.
He explained. . He convinced me.. You understand, right?
Thanks for everything”.
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He got out to the balcony. The rain fal ing on his body hurt, as
if the drops were sharing his grief. He raised his head looking
for answers. No one. The noise of his body fal ing on the
asphalt was covered by a thunder.
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The idea of Saita publications emerged in July 2012, having as a
primary goal to create a web space where new authors can interact
with the readers directly and free.
Saita publications’ aim is to redefine the relationship between
publisher-author-reader, by cultivating a true dialogue, and by
establishing an effective communication channel for authors and
readers alike. Saita publications stay far away from profit,
exploitation and commercialisation of literary property.
The strong wind of passion for reading,
the sweet breeze of creativity,
the zephyr of innovation,
the sirocco of imagination,
the levanter of persistence,
the deep power of vision,
guide the saita of our publications.
We invite you to let books fly free!
First Pages: dark feelings come to light, a
80 Charis Gantzoudis ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
confession before the end, forbidden dreams,
trips, nightmares, personal and financial
impasses, disappointment, fear, pain…
All enclosed in this book. Nine
stories, each one enlightening
actions and situations of people
hating, loving, separating, falling
in love, yearning, disappointing,
travelling, going insane, freaking
ISBN: 978-618-5040-65-9
out, despairing and hoping…