DEAD STAR

Paz Marquez Benitez

The story of the short story Dead Stars revolves around a man, Alfred Salazar, and his affairs.
Alfred Salazar believes in true love and optimism to discover ecstasy in its stir. Esperanza is the
first woman he falls in love with.
The families of both of them are acquainted with each other and hence they start a loving
relationship. Both get engaged after three years of their relationship. Alfredo is a lawyer who has
strong desires and wants warmth and compassion, however, Esperanza is an impassionate
woman having strong will and principles. Alfredo’s love for her soon fades away when he meets
Julia. Julia, now, becomes a new object of his desire.

Julia Salas is sister in law of the Judge, who is a friend of Alfredo’s father. Julia is an optimistic
and enthusiastic person having her own dreams and desires.

When Alfredo comes across her, he is strongly attracted to her. On his visit to her with his father,
he engages himself in conversation with her and is attracted to her charm. Even he is so
passionate that he doesn’t disclose his engagement to Esperanza.

So as to avoid the discovery of his fiancée, he keeps secrets from Esperanza too. His eyes are
doomed when he learns about Julia’s return to his native town. With the fear of losing her,
Alfredo decides to declare his true feeling for Julia.

When the Church’s function ends, Alfredo goes to meet her, though his fiancé is waiting for him.
When he reaches there, he learns that Julia has already known about his engagement to
Esperanza. She wishes him for his marriage and leaves him.

On his return home, he gets a double blow. He finds Esperanza talking to her friend about loyalty
and faithfulness. Alfredo senses a desire to communicate. He supports the reason for craving and
choice over dishonesty.

Esperanza soon confesses that she knew about his affair with Julia. In pursuit of his lust and
heart’s content, she encourages him to cancel the wedding. However, the wedding goes ahead as
scheduled and Alfred surrenders to reason.

Near Julia’s native town, Alfred, after eight years, is sent to some work duty. On his visit, he
feels nostalgic and cannot resist his lust for Julia and soon finds an excuse to meet her.

Julia is still single that forces Alfred to dream about starting a new life with her; however, he
soon realizes that everything is not the same as it were before. Moreover, Julia has also changed
lost something.
 THE THOUGHTS OF HANOI
Nguyen Thi Vinh, translated by Nguyen Ngoc Bich

The night is deep and chill

as in early autumn. Pitchblack,
it thickens after each lightning flash.
I dream of Hanoi:
5 Co-ngu Road
ten years of separation
the way back sliced by a frontier of hatred.
I want to bury the past
to burn the future
10 still I yearn
still I fear
those endless nights
waiting for dawn.
Brother,
15 how is Hang Dao now?
How is Ngoc Son temple?
Do the trains still run
each day from Hanoi
to the neighboring towns?
20 To Bac-ninh, Cam-giang, Yen-bai,
the small villages, islands
of brown thatch in a lush green sea?
The girls
bright eyes
25 ruddy cheeks
four-piece dresses
raven-bill scarves
sowing harvesting
spinning weaving
30 all year round,
the boys
ploughing
transplanting
in the fields
35 in their shops
running across
the meadow at evening
to fly kites
and sing alternating songs.
THE TAXIMAN STORY