A Desire for Happiness

A short-story written by Alejandro Barco. Contemporary, fiction, horror. Translated from Spanish by Alejandro Barco and Cecilia Marquez.

A Desire for Happiness

The young man was doing his daily work convinced that it was the best thing to do so nobody would suspect anything.  His desire was to put everything behind and find the adventure of happiness.  That day, he rode his bike and acknowledged someone with a quick nod.  He arrived to the university where knowledge boxes up bright minds and routine gets rid of the non-persistent students.  This time, he perceived the inert and thick air of an early nightfall and went up the stairs which swarmed of students rushing to get to their class.  As was his custom, he proceeded to the window at the end of the hall to contemplate the city.  Soft colors and quick steps from students being late gave some life to the hall which opened to the classroom where he learned poetry and romantic gloomy thoughts.  The sinister and cloudy nightfall broke up the monotony of spring days while the precursor clouds guarded a slow and dark evening.  “Ahh!! Now it is good,” he thought, nothing compared to the ethereal air of California that softly brushed his face with unique freshness.  He closed his eyes and went to the most remote place; his mind used to take him to the unthinkable and absurd.  On that eighth floor’s classroom, the professor’s words were at a much higher level in the young man’s mind, he was entertained by words and ideas that generated reflexive conscience and happiness that verged insanity.  He needed to find himself and solve his own personal issues.  For him going back to the university was a good idea, he reasoned many times.  In the class, he was able to escape from his own mind, he would lay down his left cheek on his palm and transport himself always to the past as if denying the future he had planned.  He knew it was only a mental exercise, he knew every minute that passed took him closer to his desired future.  The last student and teacher in the classroom left saying good night to him, wandering what keeps him always pensive and at times ironic.  The gray sky reminded him of long scary nights, he never knew how to deal with that ... although today all those sensations seemed harmless for him.  His eyes wandered around the black board and crushed with his loneliness, he walked in soft and firm steps to the window to enjoy one more time the view of the city.  He fixed his gaze on the white and dusty window frame, looked carefully at the cracks in the wooden frame like he used to do when he was a child looking for aunts in his backyard tree.  He breathed a sigh of joy and his mind retained all the happiness in his life, he revived the green fields that surrounded him in his childhood, kissed his mother, sang with his friends, swam in the light blue river, and rode the white horse by the mountains with his grandfather.  His unbreakable spirit took over the classroom; he looked at the black moon, smiled and felt his own soul fire within himself.  Resolved to proceed in finding his happiness he let himself be wrapped by an icy and unbrideled wind of a brief and rapid air.  He jumped without closing his eyes.  He descended at meteoric speed to encounter in the floor a deadly blow that will bring him forever happiness.  Solemn and sincere with himself, he cut the infinite air and crossed his consciousness, absolutely convinced and in peace.

ALEJANDRO BARCO

Author's Note

English is not my first language. You may find some grammar errors. Do not hesitate to contact me!

Reviews

[nightyalia]

wow this was very good no suggestions .your a great writer