Georgi Gospodinov: Time Shelter (excerpt in English)

Time Shelter

The whole meadow out front was dotted with forget-menots, here and there peonies and some big red poppies erupted. But the petite forget-me-nots shone blue amidst the Swiss green of the grass – I am sure that Swiss green exists, I can’t believe someone hasn’t patented it yet. Was it some sort of joke, planting forget-me-nots in front of a geriatric psychiatric center? I went up to the top floor where Gaustine’s clinic was, with several years’ rent paid for in advance by Mr. S. I rang the doorbell and Gaustine himself in a turtleneck and big round glasses opened the door.

Translated by Angela Rodel
(source: Vilenica Almanac 2025)