First Love

*First Love - Πρώτη Αγάπη (Proti Agapi) is a short story written by the Cretan writer Ioannis Kondilakis. The story is set in 19th century Crete and it narrates the tragic love between a fourteen year old boy, Giorgis, and an older woman, Vaggelio. Following is my translated version of a selected scene in the book. In this scene, Vaggelio is spotted climbing a big rock, by a fellow villager Dracogiorgis.

The following evening, Dracogiorgis was digging in a field at Kavalara. In a moment of rest, his

eyes fell over at Dervisi Charakia, the big rock, where I once read the letters to Vaggelio. Next to the rock, he spotted a woman that seemed to be Vaggelio. He thought that this was impossible for she, a dying woman, could not possibly reach that far. Yet, it was her! He could clearly see her. What was she doing there?

She sat under a locust tree and rested her head upon her hands. She sat there for a long time. The distance would have been exhausting for her condition. He wondered how long it would have taken her to arrive here from the village.

Dracogiorgis, feeling the agony in her heart, felt sorry for her. He kept doing his work, while his eyes followed the wretched woman. He wished to go there. Then, he saw her stand up and from the move of her hands guessed that she was crying.

On her way to the top she frequently paused to rest. When she finally reached it, she stopped and started crying again.

'' Is she crying again? '' murmured Dracogiorgis. ''What is going on? I shall go and see.''

Yet, as soon as he started walking, he saw the sick woman standing up. There, she seemed like a mournful cypress tree, juxtaposed against the white rock with her black figure. It seemed that the sick woman stretched her eyes over the beloved place. Then, turning over the village, she made a farewell gesture. Suddenly, the villager cried out in horror:

''Oh Lord!'', ''Oh Lord!''

* Painting by Henrik Aa. Uldalen.