A new dozen stories were added last week to the participants in the VI Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero Short Story Contest. The stories arrive constantly at the chain's newsroom since the deadline opened on July 1st and those interested can continue sending them until August 31st. For this sixth edition of the contest, the works must include love or heartbreak as a theme and, in addition, as every year, the radio must appear in the story.
A weekend at the Natura Palace hotel in Playa Blanca for two people will be the prize for the winner, while the second place will receive a Mezze for two people at the Sebastyan restaurant, in the same tourist town. Finally, the third place will take two tickets for the 6D cinema at the Biosfera Shopping Center in Puerto del Carmen.
As in previous editions, the maximum length of the stories must be 100 words, including the title if it has one. Each author may submit a maximum of five stories, which may be signed with a pseudonym, provided that the name and contact telephone number of the author are attached. Those who wish to do so can send their works to the address: concursorelatos@lanzarotemedia.net. Until then, La Voz de Lanzarote will publish weekly those that are received and that meet the participation requirements.
These are the new works received until Thursday of last week:
Fidel
The years did not forgive and Fidel's health had worsened. However, he was still the same playful and affectionate friend, always aware of us. Despite the ailments, he never gave up walks with his piece of ball in his mouth. Every morning, as soon as he heard the radio turn on, he would run to greet. One day he didn't come. Fidel could no longer get up. His gaze told us everything. With a broken heart and with my hand on his chest, I tried to convey all my love to accompany him in his last dream.
"No"
"-I don't love you. I'm not interested..." -your gaze was fixed on the ground and the knot in your throat confirmed that it was a lie. -She...
The broken shards of my heart were one by one detaching from their place. The coldness of your words emerged, breaking the sweet image that I had forged of you.
-Listen to the radio... do you hear that melody? One day, no one knows when, it will return to your ears, and it will be just at that moment when the frozen tears that you retain will flow in cascade and you will regret it. I don't hold a grudge, but I don't take your memory either. Goodbye."
Out of step
The dogs bark at the night, I turn down the radio and look out the window while you are between the sheets. It's late but I don't want to leave. I want to keep playing that we know each other, that one day we were able to see each other completely, that we always smile, that we fly and never go down, that we will always be us, that there will never be a never. However, we are slaves to the rhythm and neither you nor I follow it anymore.
Rediscovering
Finally, when I had the courage to get away from you, I understood that I don't want to live entertained, I want to live. I don't want to live counting the days, I want to live. Like a radio program, I don't want to survive, I want to live. Notice every second, experience and feel. I don't want to be volatile, or a sigh, I want to be oxygen and energy. I don't want to be wind that comes and goes, but wind that gives breath. I want to be sand to slip through the cracks and get to know. I want to be sea to be calm and storm at the same time. I want to love and transmit without reservations. I want, I want and I can.
Time
What is the future if not today? TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK. Close and open your eyes and it just happened. However, we were thinking about what would become of us when night and day passed, when spring and summer ended. Where did the "we are" go? The we lower the car windows and sing our song on the radio, the crying if we feel like it, the screaming to relax and the observing while so much life.
My life.
Furtive
Hugging furtively in the darkness of the kitchen, they kissed each other rapturously, aware of the danger.
They could hear the laughter coming from the adjoining room, and they could hear the music emitted by an old radio, with strident songs, but she, between kiss and passionate kiss, caressed his face, as if wanting to recognize those beloved features.
Both knew that at any moment someone could enter and surprise them, but taking that risk, if possible, increased the fury of their kisses.
Their love was a mistake, they only had those brief encounters, the consequences could be disastrous, a solution had to be found.
Untitled
I felt his hug and knew it was going to be the last.
We were both very young.
But I felt that I could never be what I always wanted.
When I saw him with her, I saw everything so clear, so handsome both... and that was my best friend?
It must have happened when I least suspected it, and what importance could it have... none.
Now I have what I wanted, I can choose, and this may be a disaster, but it will be my fault.
When listening to that old song on the radio, I try to remember him, but I don't feel any emotion, I want to scream and I do: I don't love you.
Unfinished story
The girl, after finding out how her parents met, wanted to know how her grandparents did. She was fascinated by the story that the old woman told her:
Two boys were in love with her. She didn't know which one to choose, because she liked both of them.
The family imposed on her to marry the spoiled child of a rich man. A good wedding would fix the family economy.
The grandmother did not reveal which of them she really loved. She promised to clear her doubts on the next visit, but in the room there were only a radio turned off and a Cervantes book opened by the end.
In the exhibition
The painting of the woman who was crying attracted him to the back of the gallery. Her body, her hair,
her fine hands, her gaze full of melancholy, all of her made him want to console her,
dry her tears and kiss her endlessly.
In the background, through the radio sounded "la vie en rose", and he thought of the new colors that
he had just discovered thanks to her. He approached, the woman extended her hand.
When the exhibition ended he had disappeared. The image of the painting had
changed, in its place a couple merged in an eternal embrace.
Desk love
The ice that separated us began to melt. The head of the marketing department invited me to coffee first thing in the morning. Hidden behind the curtain, she closed her eyes, parted her lips and I gladly responded to a wet kiss that set our bodies on fire. Caressing her I realized everything I had been longing for. That would be our first spring. Like a secret love, which is played in deep silence, we love each other delicately, while outside the frost gently covers the morning. The radio announced spring, although I first saw it in her eyes.
Other times
Sitting on the porch of the old house, resting from life, from raising children, from jobs, from miseries, from diseases..., they hold hands while silently contemplating the sunset.
From inside the house, the radio brings them the voice of an expert who affirms:
"Marriages that last a lifetime are those that say I love you every day"
They look at each other, smile. He approaches and places a kiss on her withered cheek.
- I love you!
- This promises. It's the second time you've told me in fifty years!
Slightly drowsy
Slightly drowsy he listened to that melody: Mr Brightside by The killers, his favorite group. It was playing on the dial of a station in that bar on the bank of El Charco. In front of him, she. She was approaching. She walked with her sinuous curves and her long dark hair completely free in the wind. Behind her, the lights of the bars flickered reflected in the water. He sighed deeply... he would have sacrificed everything to touch her skin.
Upon arriving, she did not say a word. She just looked at him, caressed his cheek and kissed him on the lips. She softly whispered in his ear: "If not today, when?".