Uxue Alberdi Estibaritz
English translation followed by original Basque translated by Nere Lete This story was first published published in 2013 in Basque as part of a collection of short stories, “Euli giro” (Time of Chagrin)
LITERARY DYSTOPIAS The building was old but affordable. It had been constructed long ago, a couple of blocks from downtown, next to an engineering school that had known better days. The student residence was managed by nuns, though there were hardly any devout students left in the city any more. “Your new roommate,” announced an old, scrawny nun, knocking on the door and opening it at the same time without giving me time to respond. I noticed the girl’s glasses. They looked like mine, but a little lighter-toned, honey-colored, and with thick frames. The type of old-fashioned, big glasses that were usually worn by old men with the newspaper reading habit, but a few years later would become trendy among students. The girl, although she looked my age, suffered from presbyopia and myopia and used bifocal lenses. When she entered the bedroom she showed no special interest in me. Without even acknowledging my presence, she placed her small leather suitcase on the unoccupied bed. She sighed as she sat. She looked tired. She glanced for a moment at my books aligned on the shelf, but did not utter a word. “If the light bothers you at night, I won’t read,” I said in an attempt to welcome her in a friendly manner.