Aaliyah and Harper has n I moved to the island of Galesnjak, on the coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea, the island has a curious form of heart surrounded by fine sand, shrubs and turquoise waters, inhabiting few people who They dislike, among other things, pets, but if they have them they are for breeding, fattening and consumption.

The rural community has peculiar colonial buildings although they are of several levels, the square meters of any property do not exceed 3.5 m ² except for the central square that occupies most of the surface, the architect or engineer seems he lost his sanity, being so narrow, the furniture was designed small, dramatized or long; performing a simple task such as brushing your teeth involved searching for utensils and going down or up a different floor up a rudimentary or steep stair, forcing the body to arch, that was fine for healthy and athletic people but not for Rubens who is paralyzed or Mrs. Valode who is elderly.

Providing services such as the monitoring, potable water, electricity or hospital services is often poor, life here is more precarious than in cities. But from that word commune comes the total opposition to the concept of fighting, prevailing cooperation over individual interests and competition, an exasperating social methodology.

The language is Croatian, however, is prevented engage in protracted discussions, it is common grunting, silent, beckoning or write notes passive-aggressive, is not considered impolite not stumble, ignore, Window Tinting, be ungrateful or inconsiderate.

Without a regime, governors, mayors, deputies, assembly members, it is a collective anarchy based on the rationality that each one of its participants has and exercises for themselves, chaos is unreal; Regarding disputes, a document must be transcribed to a general council with the power to ignore the claim indefinitely with the promise of a visit to the scene, which rarely happens.

The economy is speculative, hourly increases the value of a product or service, creating a chain of shortage or imbalance of social classes.

Aaliyah and Harper are nurses and good friends, recent graduates were attracted by the salary, the insignificance of previous experience, and the slender postcards of that region.

The nascent fortnight was traumatic, Aaliyah, Harper and Rubens slept in the same room on a bunk that did not allow the second and third to always sleep on their side, face up or face down, that if you crawled carefully inside the structure. Rubens’ snoring could be felt meters away, in that sense, on the seventh or eighth day without getting to sleep, the brain turns a deaf ear, the body adapts. Every time they planned to pay for a rental it was uphill because of the constant rise in rates.

The employer’s personality was not an added value either, it caused annoyance to feel the stab of Mr. Rubens’s cane in his side, which is why A., and H., daily interspersed the shift of the roof bunk.

– I’m hungry, make breakfast.

He woke up at four in the morning, he had not come down from the room since he suffered the accident when he fell from a tree on the edge of the cliff, therefore his complexion was very white, Aaliyah had the idea to open a door in the roof of straw and so the man could receive a little vitamin D relieving the pain in his bones, now, the neighbors are bothered, ordering to close the hole immediately.

– Why must you, Mr. Rubens? This is your home and you can do whatever you want inside it –Harper said-

– You are selfish; you have to think of others before yourself.

– More Selfish is entrom eterse on the property of others said Aaliyah-

– They do not understand, they are from the city, if at the time I had obeyed, no… I would be bedridden, my commune advises me for a common welfare.

– The sun is used to synthesize vitamin D, we also consider fulfilling your needs in the urinary catheter if you let us place it.

– For that I cancel a salary, so that they help me, I do not need advice or recommendations, if I do myself a hundred times, a hundred times they will clean me, if they do not like it, bye.

The nurses agreed to cope with the situation for at least a year, spending the minimum and returning the way they came. Aaliyah, due to her brotherly nature, was saddened by the situation of the people of Galesnjak, instead, Harper told her to be carefree by concentrating on the lucrative goal.

The boss would fall asleep for more than twelve hours once he had lunch, Harper would walk alone along the boardwalk, his co-worker asked him to wake up because sleeping so much would kill him.

– If you want to wake it up but you know you don’t have the strength to carry it, you decide.

– It’s a matter of work ethics.

– Having good working conditions also influences, my fingers are wrinkled from washing so many diapers.

– The ideal is to prolong and improve the patient’s health.

– The guy is almost green; dead he does everyone a favor.

– You are becoming one of the locals of Galesnjak.

– I adapt and flowed… which is hard to understand you and something you should do…

– We can change things.

– We could sounds like a crowd, the other night I dreamed a murderous horde was chasing us with pitchforks and torches for disturbing the sacred decision of Galesnjak.

Aaliyah heeded the dream premonition Harper and went for a walk to the only place in Galesnjak distraction, square, quite empty apart from one lady who was preparing soup in front of her home, the girl came in are out conversation. The response received was a grimace and a gesture for him to take a seat at the picnic table.

– Thank you, very kind – the lady looked at her strangely –

– Are you from outside?

– Yes, I’ve been working for Mr. Rubens for a few months, do you know him? – I answer with my thumb up, serving him a bowl of broth –

– How much is it? – The lady shrugged her shoulders shaking her head-

The broth was exquisite, her hand rushed to ingest it, she began to sweat and feel hot -the lady crossed her index fingers asking if it was serving more-

– If you tell me how much it is… – the tureen raised her hands indicating to stop asking and crossing her arms in X-

– Why can’t they talk?

– The community works if the actions I take prevent complaints.

– They’re strict around here.

– The collective conscience gives everyone gregarious benefits.

– Do you give soup for a social action? -Thumbs up-

– Then I’ll go back to help her peel and wash the vegetables. -He wiped off his apron and raised the bowl indicating to the girl it was time for her to leave-

– It is very kind, I will return tomorrow at the end of my workday, with your permission.

The man had a very low pulse, very poor energies, he had a few days left, however he followed the usual routine, he fell asleep again and Aaliyah took advantage of leaving quickly, it happened that Harper called her but I could not hear him as he plunged into his path, then He followed her, saw her heading to the tureen house, left her alone, at least found a distraction, he thought.

“Thank you… I can’t talk about the remnant; I’ve already talked enough…” I mumble-

– Why is it hard for you to show affection?

– Today a navigator will come who sends the local manufacturing to the distributors, talk to him… you can come back until tomorrow or the general council will dangerously call me to chapter.

The man arrived, corpulent with a gray beard and wrinkles marked by sun exposure, with elegant clothing and an attractive voice.

– I had already warned the other nurse to take off those superhero ambitions, these issues are delicate, see me at the dock at six, I hate being late.

Aaliyah investigated the silence of her partner; her partner investigated the why of his humanity.

– Aaliyah this also happens outside these borders. Why do you always expect a reward? Thank you? Big deal.

– You study to afford certain luxuries, earn a salary that covers more than the basic food basket, have moral education, have individual freedom, rights.

– If you insist Maria Teresa from Croatia, talk to the transporter.

The man hid among some stones, in a place lacking surveillance by the general council when he heard his crazy footsteps, the agreed signal.

– That they are not good morning nor thank you, does that bother you? -He held back his shrill laugh- Aaliyah, did you pronounce it right?

– Yes it is.

– Hey, it’s simple, it’s a dictatorship but there are no caciques; salaries are undue but ideology makes them solve with hydroponic crops or making various decentralized jobs; pay taxes and bribes to collectives and the State; the entrepreneurial or entrepreneurial mindset is punished if the earnings exceed twenty percent of the investment; The general council centralizes the legislative and judicial powers without having the slightest training or membership in accounting or public administration, resulting in arbitrary, arrogant and despotic powers; interference and protests are punished; They have endured so much mistreatment that the citizens themselves denounce attempts to overthrow or simply being happy is a luxury of a few privileged people.

– But it is an island; I haven’t even seen the first policeman patrol. Why don’t they take up arms?

– Lastly, that invalid they serve… did not suffer any accident, Rubens… was punished by the TGJ or general court of justice, guilty of trampling on national symbols or overthrowing the patriotic impetus.

– Impossible to fall off a cliff as a child Why would I lie?

– Let’s say the incident occurred as an adult… the general council got tired of seeing him in front of their offices demanding rights when the State demands the fulfillment of duties, first and foremost. They broke into his house, tied him up, and pushed him into the abyss… I’m struggling to survive even though it doesn’t seem like it now… the State on conditional compensation, keeps him with a bag of food and a monthly bonus that can be withdrawn if he leaves his home, that is, house by jail in our country of origin and that miss can happen to you…

– It’s unheard of, Rubens was born here.

– Hey! No, he was a foreign resident like you or me, I planned the maneuver in advance, obtaining nationality took a year, now they are forty.

– It’s incredible what you tell me… if you talk to Rubens, he seems like an automaton just like the others’ common welfare ‘,’ mine belongs to everyone ‘, ‘ wait for spontaneity to solve it ‘,’ avoid complaints ‘, ‘prioritize the foreigner ‘

– No! Neither does it depend on the nationality of the foreigner… those who bring goods or request orders are well received, diplomatic interferers or defense lawyers are on the black list, what are you going to do now?

– The only solution is to go back to my country or they will break my legs – he sighs – it is sad, it is a prison where the origin crushes the nationalist.

– Yes miss the immigrant commands more here than the natives because he brings his worthless currency and here he charges it. Money laundering among other branches.

The following night the contracting party suffered a heart attack, the groups invited the nurses to contribute money, according to, to raise inquiries against a premeditated homicide based on a good civic behavior.

– No! I will not return to this island, I will forge the master’s signature and cancel some loaches in the communal house; I will apply these moral ruffians’ hips where freedom of expression is valued. Do you sign up or not?

Had to accept, giving a bath, Aaliyah was purified as a water filter was not guilty of any crime; remain silent for fear of reprisals it is equivalent to fall in the jaws open; Sacrificing your skin in a public demonstration while other fellow citizens watch the television removes the appetite.

In emergency he brought in a secret compartment of his suitcase, a valuable pin, encrusted with diamonds, it was an alternative plan in case all else failed. He called the tureen… but he refused to approach or leave the narrow building, Aaliyah motioned for him to check in his apron pocket because I handed him a present. He also gave instructions to the navigator in case the woman wished to leave, to transport her wherever she wished, accepting the brooch as p ago, and provide her with part of the money for the pawn of the garment.

– Start the engine, I want to leave immediately.

– Until you finally react.

– Harper, I have always had my head on my shoulders… the residents of Galesnjak are masochists, accustomed to being seen through the microscope of pity, preferring to ignore there is a better world outside the heart mold of the people, enjoying in the humiliation, the domination and submission Who am I to change it?

– There is no reason why coins have two sides.

– You guessed but n i think that ours is outstanding, we also want to own private enjoying benefits and if you need to manipulate or use others only we please the whip of corruption, it s different mineral resources continue to ensure the inequality of wealth and How does that make us different from the exploiters? In nothing, we fight to move up in category, that was the objective that brought us to the end of the world and when we return to the entrusted civilized society, it will continue to be so; the Empresari or can treat a little more dignified, it ‘s all a cubicle three meters square to the side of a blind or is that from now on more you you threw in favor of the political and social rights?

– No huh! Is not my style, I said in tone of joke… you know? We must not deviate from the vital machination…

– That’s a reflection of survival Harper, for borr ar side effects or side, good for you, friend, I would compare it to swill but you feel luxury be e l landfill…

– What did you say bitch? – The dealer must have restrained him by preventing a violent act against a woman-

– It’s a joke, calm down… -giving a fake smile- for me it is not funny the fact that you negligently accelerated the physical deterioration of Mr. Rubens, I wonder how many more patients you have done it? Will you continue making malpractice in the future?

– What are you talking about? You went to the square to chatter with the tureen while I worked.

– Re sane once in the academy, you put on the defensive with the teacher, refusing to cleanse a patient eighty years, if you get a little disgusted clean dirt had reconsidered your profession… – Harper tried to remember you changed for bad reasons- drugs for chocolates but I defended you against all odds because I liked you, that is in the past.

– I would never look at a piece of sloppy like you…

A fragment of the pin was given to the pilot minutes before getting on the aircraft; the burly man tied up Harper, in the meantime the silhouettes of the General Council could be seen on the horizon.

– Chocolate bonbons… take

– Did you bring me to Galesnjak to prove me guilty?

– Until you finally understand piece of ocher… the end justifies means…

QUOTE FROM SOURCES

• SANTAMARÍA, PALOMA. (06/19/2016). Five amazing islands with curious shapes. Spain: ABC TOP. ( URL )
• RAFFINO, MARÍA ESTELA. (05/26/2020). Community concept. Argentina: Concept of. ( URL )
• Label vector created by freepik

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Any resemblance with the reality is mere coincidence. All characters, names, events, organizations and dialogues in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or have been used in this work in a fictitious way.