3 Jun 2026

Episodic Family Relations by Alisa Chazova

— Father, but I love him! —

Lizaveta's ankles, as well as her voice, trembled. 

— Such love is temporary: in a year, when you’ll live together in poverty, it will turn into hatred. — Valery walked across the stage confidently and somewhat measurably. He kept his hands behind his back. 

— Do you mean to say that I have no right to choose for myself the one with whom I’ll live the rest of my life? — Her chest rapidly expanded and sank. 

— Right or no right, this little head is completely incapable of thinking for itself, — he approached her face, carefully took one of the blonde braids, and shifted it from a shoulder to herback. 

— But I love him ... — although she whispered, it was heard by everyone in the hall, — I love him more than anything in the world... 

 A girl didn’t take her eyes off his own until she sank completely to the floor, exhausted. A man held her by the ribs. Tears and saliva flowed down her neck onto a white dress, and her hair stuck to her sweaty forehead. 

— Elizabeth, — he did not let go of her for a moment, — we must repeat everything from the beginning. 

— Explain what was wrong this time. 

 The repetition of a 3-minute episode has been going on for over 2 hours. Before the premiere of the play “Relatives,” an actor who was supposed to play a father broke his leg, so he was replaced by the director’s assistant. The rest of the troupe lay down on the floor and watched in silence: everyone got used to the toxic relations between the newcomer and Valery. 

— You flooded the stage with your emotions, — he glanced at her wet clothes,— Literally. 

— Ha! Forgive me, mister, for having a talent! — as if on command, the girl changed her paleness to an angry blush. 

— What is talent when you can't control it? 

— What is control when there is no talent? 

They stood nose-to-nose (figuratively, because they had a big height difference). 

— Please stop, you’re crossing the line. 

— I’m sick of your lines! I desire to capture people's feelings, to give my own heart to be torn apart if it's needed. Meanwhile, you not only don’t let me become the actress I aspire to be, but you also seem to be running away from the main instrument of ours - emotions! 

— Do you really know what desires of yours are? Capture - undoubtedly, but not only emotions. You’re filling the entire space with yourself, not leaving a single empty corner. You need everyone to look at you, hear you, and think about you. Wherever I look, since you have been here, it's all You-You-You!.. — although his voice was calm, the words carried too many details – he got scared of his own sincerity. 

— Barker! Boring, emotionless barker! 

The rehearsal ended early. Tomorrow's performance now stood at risk. 

 ****************************************************************************************************************************************************** 

— They're late longer than usual for some reason, — a woman in a burgundy beret whispered in the ear of a neighbor on the right side of the seat. They have never met each other before.  

— They'll start soon. Do you see that large man? — she stretched out her hand to the left side of the stage. 

The beret slipped due to overly active nodding: 

— He looks Italian. 

— He's giving a signal to the lighting director. 

Soon darkness fell in the hall; voices stifened, movements slowed down. Act One. 

— Is this a father and daughter? — the beret was already in her hands. 

— Yes. The director of this play decided to take prototypes of Juliet and Lord Capulet - a new look at old motifs. 

— Intriguing... and is it normal that they're so close to each other? 

Women shifted closer to the actors in unison. 

— Indeed, extremely intimate scene... 

— Where did his hand just slip? — she gripped the bar more tightly. 

— No-no, it just appeared like touch, but there was none! I think... I have no idea how to take it, but it definitely isn't...  

— Shh! — came angrily from behind. 

— Sorry!  

— Sorry... 


 

No comments:

Post a Comment