I Must Betray You — 1 (Unu)

1

UNU

erry Christmas,” smiled Liliana.

“Merry Christmas.”M My breath smoked on the air. Sure, the apartment might have been warmer, especially now, with fewer heat restrictions. But we had more privacy in the hallway. So we sat, huddled next to each other against

the wall.

She passed me a narrow box.

“A new rib?” I grinned.

“Sorry, couldn’t find one quick enough. Open it.”

I removed the lid. Inside was a pen. A sleek, black ballpoint pen from Germany. It was so special, much nicer than anything I owned. I looked to her.

“Keep writing, Cristian. You have a lot to say.”

“Mersi. I love it. I have something for you too.” I lifted the small bag next to me. “First, this.” I reached inside the bag and handed her the colorful square. She unfolded it carefully.

“Springsteen! And it’s in English! Uau, where did you get it?”

“A pal gave it to me.”

“What’s a pal?” she asked.

I paused, thinking of Dan Van Dorn. “It’s an American term. It means

‘friend.’ ”

“It’s great. I love it.”

“I have something else.” I dipped my hand into the bag, held it there for suspense, then revealed the shiny plastic package with grand ceremony.

“What are those?” She laughed.

“They’re called Twinkies. They’re American too.”

“Should we eat one?”

“Of course we should.” I pulled off the cellophane wrapper. Liliana took one of the yellow cakes and I took the other.

“Unu . . . doi . . .”

On “trei” we both took a big bite. We watched each other, chewing and laughing.

“Oh! There’s whipped cream inside,” she said.

A dot of vanilla fluff lingered on the side of Liliana’s mouth. I leaned in and kissed it away, hovering close to her. “Merry Christmas,” I

whispered.

“Merry Christmas, Cristian.”

For years, life had felt frozen thick, obscured, like looking through a window blinded with ice. I slowly exhaled a chestful of emptiness and inhaled a breath of possibility. We each took another bite. The Twinkies weren’t spectacular, but in that moment, sitting in the hallway next to Liliana on Christmas Day, they tasted like something we had never

experienced: Spectacular hope.