Alice Glasnerova
(This story was published under the title Two Worlds in the British Czech and Slovak Review February/March 2023.)
The late afternoon sun slanted into the apartment, dust motes dancing in its rays. They fell on the suitcase lying open on the bed. Erwin had nearly finished packing and his wallet containing passport, plane tickets and pounds sterling was on the desk next to him. Just one last task before he could relax and look forward to the trip.
This time tomorrow he would be in London, reunited with Sheila and awaiting the birth of their first child. For so long fatherhood had seemed an impossible dream but now, at 53, the unimaginable had happened and joy bubbled inside him. This was not the time to think about it. Taking the thin typing paper, interleaved with carbons, he slotted it into the roller and started to type.
Alice Glasnerova