I couldn’t tell you anything about me, my dear,
Except that through the open doors of my sorrow
dark travelers of the night enter freely.
I stand, welcoming them at my doorstep,
hoping one day you will come as well…
(from the poem Walls hungry for your love, by G. Lučić Lalić)

Yesterday we gathered, after so long, at a place hidden from mankind,
me and my friends: Love, Happiness, Sorrow and Loneliness.
Love said:
– I know how to trick people, and once again I wanted to fool you,
but your pure heart defended you once again. I know how to change
people, but your soul doesn’t let me change you. Sometimes, I bring
goodness to people, but you… Never knew how to recognize the good.
You haven’t got but an ounce of common sense and you cannot stop
me. We aren’t best friends, you spend more time with others.
Happiness grinned:
– I know how to fool people, too! Forgive me, for I have fooled you
as well, at least for a short while. I know how to change people, but you
are so stubborn, too set in your own ways. I know how to give myself
freely, but you keep looking for me in other forms. You don’t know
how to meet me half-way, to greet me, you simply don’t know what to
do with me. Sorrow and Loneliness are your best friends, and I won’t
spend my precious time on you anymore.
Sorrow was delighted:
– I know how to come when you least expect me, to reach you when
you aren’t hoping you’ll see me. I know how to make your every pore a
home. I spend most of your time with you, because you offer yourself
so freely, like no other in the whole world. You receive all the Danaans’
gifts I bring. I know how to kill, but I keep you alive so that I could live
too, for I endure inside you the most. I would gladly be your best friend,
you hardly break free from me as it is.
Loneliness looks at me, offended:
– I am your best friend, even though you betrayed me so many times
before. You left my side and went to people just to be hurt, and then
you would come back crawling, waiting for me to heal you, why you
squirmed with your open wounds. I directed your thoughts, taught
you not to fall again on the same spots, suckled you with the strength
for the new tomorrow, left you road sign all over, yet… Whenever I
would heal you, you would leave me again. You are not a loyal friend,
the others are much closer and so often fonder than me.
I kept quiet. I didn’t justify my actions; I didn’t even want to ex-
plain. I just whispered them your name. I opened the doors and bid
them farewell, sending them into the night.
I really missed my best friend. She would always arrive late, but
she was there even when I had hurt her, betrayed her, uncovered the
secrets we had shared… She was there whenever I was joyful, tearful
or on the run from the people. Nobody could understand me like she
did. She was by my side, unconditionally, in all the moments that were
the most precious to me. With utmost fear and the great respect, even
Love, Happiness, Sorrow and Loneliness gave way and retreated. Ac-
tually, she had this amazing power to birth them or annihilate them.
She didn’t say a thing, because she didn’t have to… Even now she
is by my side, my best and dearest friend – Silence. I told her naught
about you, I withheld your name… She understood…

Translated by Tihana Lalić