06. ’Twas only now, in her old age

’Twas only now, in her old age, after stubbornly battling the dust for year after year after year, sweeping and mopping and shining incessantly, ’twas only now as she was sitting paralyzed in the leather wheelchair her grandson had bought, that her old fear of loneliness and boredom drained out of her body like slurry until nothing was left but the clear green day.

06. ’Twas only now, in her old age

Pas nu, op oudere leeftijd, na jaren van hardnekkig vechten tegen het stof, onophoudelijk bezemend, vegend en poetsend, pas nu, verlamd in het leren karretje dat haar kleinzoon voor haar kocht, lekte de angst voor de eenzaamheid en de verveling uit haar lichaam als een modderig water, tot alleen nog de groene, heldere dag overbleef.

Abia acum, la bătrîneţe, după ce ani de zile se încăpăţînase să lupte împotriva prafului, măturînd, ştergînd, lustruind fără încetare, abia acum cînd stătea paralizată în căruciorul de piele cumpărat de nepotul său, teama de singurătate şi plictiseală se scurse din trupul ei ca o apă mîloasă, pînă rămase numai ziua senină şi verde.