Febrero de 2022
Ana es una mujer de medio siglo, para quienes la ven pasar a diario camino a su trabajo es una mujer normal. Hermosa, con tímidas canas que despuntan en su larga cabellera color miel.
February 2022
Ana is a woman of half a century, for those who see her daily go to work is a normal woman. Beautiful, with shy gray hair that stands out in her long honey-colored hair.
Ella es de andar seguro y hasta grácil.
She is safe and even graceful.
Es amable. Conoce y saluda por su nombre a las personas que forman parte de su entorno rutinario. Simplemente ella es una mujer especial.
It's kind. Meet and greet by name the people who are part of your routine environment. She is simply a special woman.
Ana, pasa diariamente por la panadería; parada obligada a las siete de cada mañana, puntual como un reloj suizo, diría en tono sarcástico su mejor amiga Rosario.
Ana, passes daily by the bakery; obligatory stop at seven o'clock every morning, punctual as a Swiss clock, would say in a sarcastic tone her best friend Rosario.
Sentada y en absoluta calma, disfruta cada sorbo, admira la colorida taza color fucsia donde le han servido su espumante, caliente y delicioso café. Aprovecha esos minutos para ponerse al día con las noticias del mundo en su novedoso dispositivo móvil.
Sitting and in absolute calm, she enjoys every sip, admires the colorful orange cup where she has been served her sparkling, hot and delicious coffee. Take advantage of those minutes to catch up on the news of the world on your new mobile device.
Una vez finalizado su ritual matutino está lista para iniciar su jornada laboral.
Once her morning ritual is over, she is ready to start her workday.
Se pone de pie, se despide de su barista predilecto con una hermosa sonrisa, donde deja ver sus cuidados y resplandecientes dientes, blancos, perfectos, dignos como suele decir su primogénito, de la madre de un odontólogo.
He stands up, says goodbye to his favorite barista with a beautiful smile, where he shows his careful and resplendent teeth, white, perfect, worthy as his firstborn often says, from the mother of a dentist.
Ana empieza su día de trabajo como siempre, ajetreado, todo es para ya. Montones de carpetas se arruman en su escritorio, casi cubren el delicado marco con la fotografía de sus amados hijos, cada minuto entra un empleado a preguntarle qué hacer, decisiones rápidas, el mundo de los negocios no deja tiempo para titubeos.
Ana starts her work day as usual, busy; everything is for now. Piles of folders collapse on his desk, almost cover the delicate frame with the photograph of his beloved children, every minute an employee comes in to ask him what to do, quick decisions, the business world leaves no time for hesitation.
Pareciera que después de dos años del más terrible confinamiento a causa de la pandemia, todo ha comenzado a moverse a un ritmo enloquecedor.
It seems that after two years of the most terrible lockdown because of the pandemic, everything has begun to move at a maddening pace.
Pero allí está Ana, siempre hermosa, siempre bien peinada, impecable, con la palabra adecuada para calmar cada situación que intentase salirse de control.
But there is Ana, always beautiful, always well combed, impeccable, with the right word to calm every situation that tried to get out of control.
Ana toma un tiempo para conversar vía telefónica con su amada hija menor, como buenas cómplices, se comparten sus secretos, ríen y finalmente se despiden con el acostumbrado te amo hasta el infinito y de vuelta. Ana continúa con su monótono día …; termina la jornada en la oficina, todo quedó en calma, ordenado, prolijo, perfecto. Como es lo normal en el mundo de Ana.
Ana takes some time to talk by phone with her beloved youngest daughter, as good accomplices, they share their secrets, laugh and finally say goodbye with the usual I love you to infinity and back. Ana continues with her monotonous day...; end the day in the office, everything was calm, tidy, neat, perfect. As is normal in Ana's world.
Al salir, se despide del señor Pedro, antiguo vigilante del edificio. Ana pone su mano sobre el hombro de aquel señor que durante años le ha dado la bienvenida cada mañana cariñosamente, y le exclama casi como un susurro adiós, gracias, por tanto. Descanse.
On leaving, he says goodbye to Mr. Pedro, the former guard of the building. Ana puts her hand on the shoulder of that man who for years has welcomed her every morning affectionately, and exclaims almost like a whisper goodbye, thank you, for so much. Rest.
El señor Pedro le responde y hace un ligero gesto de extrañeza. Ella, quien siempre ha sido una mujer amable, es la primera vez en veinte años que le dice adiós, y se despide como quien va a realizar un largo viaje. Él no puede evitar sentir una sensación rara, hasta desagradable que le recorre el cuerpo, y sólo alcanza a responder: hasta mañana señora Ana.
Mr. Pedro responds to him and makes a slight gesture of strangeness. She, who has always been a kind woman, is the first time in twenty years that she says goodbye, and says goodbye as if she is going to make a long journey. He can't help but feel a strange, even unpleasant sensation running through his body, and he can only answer: see you tomorrow Mrs. Ana.
La sigue con la mirada mientras ella se aleja, hasta le parece que camina diferente, sus pasos ya no son tan seguros, no lleva su elegante maletín de cuero negro repleto de papeles para revisar en casa, sólo su cartera, tampoco esboza su linda sonrisa y sus labios no tienen el color carmesí que la caracteriza.
He follows her with his gaze as she walks away, it even seems to her that she walks differently, her steps are no longer so safe, she does not carry her elegant black leather briefcase full of papers to check at home, only her wallet, nor does she sketch her beautiful smile and her lips do not have the crimson color that characterizes her.
El señor Pedro piensa para sí que aquella Ana no es la misma que ha visto ir y venir durante tantos años. Se queda abstraído, y como quien no quiere atraer malos pensamientos sacude su cabeza y decide pensar que deben ser cosas de viejo, que ahora sí los ochenta años próximos a cumplir le están haciendo daño.
Mr. Pedro thinks to himself that this Anne is not the same one he has seen coming and going for so many years. He is abstracted, and as one who does not want to attract bad thoughts shakes his head and decides to think that they must be old things, that now the eighty years next to fulfill are hurting him.
Ana continua su rutina, nadie más que ella sabe lo que pasa por su mente, nadie más sabe de su cansancio, de su tristeza. De sus largas horas sin poder dormir, sintiéndose siempre tan sola. Las noches parecen ser más oscuras, más calladas. Su pecho le duele de tanto obligarse a ahogar el llanto, está agotada de aparentar una normalidad que no es cierta, una alegría que no siente, que no existe. Sus pasos son pesados, torpes, su mente está como sus ojos: nublados.
Ana continues her routine, no one but her knows what goes through her mind, no one else knows about her tiredness, her sadness. Of her long hours without being able to sleep, always feeling so alone. The nights seem to be darker, quieter. Her chest hurts from forcing herself to drown out crying, she is exhausted from appearing a normality that is not true, a joy that she does not feel, that does not exist. His steps are heavy, clumsy, his mind is like his eyes: cloudy.
Ana llega a la casa, deja como siempre su cartera en el cómodo sillón de la espaciosa sala, se detiene a dejar sus llaves sobre la repisa, y allí se encuentra frente a frente ante el espejo, observa como escudriñando a aquella mujer. Sus ojos grandes ya no reflejan una mirada vivaz, se notan apagados, tristes.
Ana arrives at the house, leaves her wallet as always in the comfortable armchair of the spacious room, stops to leave her keys on the shelf, and there she is face to face before the mirror, she observes how scrutinizing that woman. His big eyes no longer reflect a lively look, they feel dull, sad.
El maquillaje se le ha corrido, las lágrimas que había aguantado tanto tiempo han decidido aflorar libremente, no hacen caso a los ruegos de Ana, ni a sus órdenes, simplemente recorren sus mejillas llevándose todo a su paso.
The makeup has run out, the tears that she had endured so long have decided to emerge freely, they do not pay attention to Ana's pleas, nor to her orders, they simply run down her cheeks taking everything in her path.
Casi temblando, alcanza a subir las escaleras hacia su habitación, se entrega al llanto y a la tristeza. Ana no quiere fingir más que es feliz. Quiere que todos la oigan gritar, que su llanto haga enmudecer las ruidosas bocinas de los autos que se escuchan afuera, impávidos ante su dolor, en la más fría y oscura noche de invierno.
Almost trembling, he reaches up the stairs to his room, indulges in tears and sadness. Ana doesn't want to pretend anymore that she's happy. She wants everyone to hear her screaming, her crying to silence the loud horns of the cars heard outside, undaunted by her pain, on the coldest and darkest winter night.
Ella ya no esconde su angustia en la almohada, simplemente ya no le importa. Sólo quiere que todo ese dolor se vaya, que todos la miren, que sepan que no es fuerte, quiere gritar que siente angustia, tristeza, miedo, soledad, y un profundo vacío en lo más hondo de su ser.
She no longer hides her distress on the pillow, she just doesn't care anymore. She just wants all that pain to go away, for everyone to look at her, to know that she is not strong, she wants to scream that she feels anguish, sadness, fear, loneliness, and a deep emptiness in the depths of her being.
Ana ha decidido permitirse mostrarse al mundo como es, sin maquillaje, sin sonrisa fingida, sin el tono amable, infeliz…Ana ha decidido abandonarse ante su desesperanza.
Ana has decided to allow herself to show herself to the world as she is, without makeup, without a fake smile, without the kind, unhappy tone... Ana has decided to abandon herself in the face of her hopelessness.
Es de mañana, parece que la noche más fría dio paso a un día hermoso, la gente camina presurosa a sus destinos, la panadería sigue allí, pero la mesa de Ana luce solitaria, el barista dedicado como siempre atiende a cada uno, sin notar que su más fiel clienta no está.
It is morning, it seems that the coldest night gave way to a beautiful day, people walk hurriedly to their destinations, the bakery is still there, but Ana's table looks lonely, the dedicated barista as always attends to each one, without noticing that his most loyal client is not.
Las calles atestadas de gente, el señor Pedro en la puerta del edificio, no parece darse cuenta de que Ana lo observa, callada, invisible, ya no le sonríe.
The crowded streets, Mr. Pedro at the door of the building, does not seem to realize that Ana observes him, silent, invisible, no longer smiles at him.
Su escritorio ya no tiene la ruma de carpetas, está extrañamente limpio, ni siquiera la foto familiar de Ana está allí. Los compañeros de trabajo tienen una expresión rara en sus rostros, como de pesar. Siguen en su día a día, pero algo parece suceder, Ana no entiende que pasa…
Her desk no longer has the amount of folders, it is strangely clean, not even Ana's family photo is there. Co-workers have a strange expression on their faces, as if of regret. They are still in their day to day, but something seems to happen, Ana does not understand what is happening.
A lo lejos escucha a su amiga decir con desdén y voz entre cortada, nunca pudimos imaginar que ella libraba una feroz batalla, y mucho menos que la perdería de esa manera, brota una lágrima que cae sobre una hermosa rosa amarilla que Rosario coloca sobre el escritorio de su entrañable amiga como una ofrenda de amor para la mujer que ya no estará más, de su querida Ana quien perdió la batalla contra una terrible y mortal depresión.
In the distance she hears her friend say with disdain and voice between cuts, we could never imagine that she was fighting a fierce battle, let alone that she would lose it that way, a tear flows that falls on a beautiful yellow rose that Rosario places on the desk of her dear friend as a love offering for the woman who will no longer be there, of his beloved Anne who lost the battle against a terrible and deadly depression.
