초단편 영어소설#7 (영어+한글)
A few months ago, my husband quit his job without warning and rented a studio, saying he wanted to paint.
몇 달 전, 남편은 예고도 없이 직장을 그만두더니 그림을 그리고 싶다며 작업실을 하나 마련했다.
I hadn’t set foot in his studio. I knew how much he hated anyone prying into his work.
나는 그의 작업실에 가 본 적이 없었다. 그가 자신의 일에 누군가 간섭하는 걸 얼마나 싫어하는지 잘 알고 있었기 때문이었다.
He would disappear for days and return as if nothing had happened.
남편은 며칠씩 사라졌다가 아무 일도 없던 것처럼 돌아오곤 했다.
He never said where he went, and I stopped asking.
그는 어디에 갔었는지 말하지 않았고, 나도 더 이상 묻지 않았다.
This time, it was six days.
이번엔 엿새째였다.
Driven by a strange sense of unease, I finally decided to go there.
묘한 불안감에 휩싸여, 나는 결국 그곳에 가보기로 했다.
Only when I stood at his studio door did I realize I didn’t know the passcode.
그의 작업실 문 앞에 서서야, 내가 비밀번호를 모른다는 사실을 깨달았다.
I tried his birthday, our wedding anniversary, every number that had once meant something to us.
그의 생일, 우리의 결혼기념일. 한때 우리에게 의미 있었던 모든 숫자를 눌러보았다.
Nothing worked.
아무것도 맞지 않았다.
Just as I was about to give up and turn away, I heard the lock click.
포기하고 돌아서려던 그 순간, '철컥' 하고 잠금장치가 풀리는 소리를 들었다.
Relief and fury surged through me at once.
안도감과 분노가 동시에 내 안에서 치밀어 올랐다.
“Do you like making me worry? Don’t you even think about the person waiting for you at home? If you're back, the least you could do is call."
“당신은 나 걱정시키는 게 그렇게 좋아? 집에서 기다리는 사람은 생각도 안 해? 돌아왔으면 전화라도 해야지.”
I was already yelling before the door fully opened, but then I froze.
문이 다 열리기도 전에 이미 소리를 질러댔지만, 순간 나는 그대로 굳어버렸다.
The person standing there wasn't my husband, but a woman I'd never seen before.
그곳에 서 있는 사람은 내 남편이 아니라, 처음 보는 낯선 여자였다.
“You must be looking for your husband,” she said calmly. “Please, come in.”
“남편분을 찾으러 오셨나 봐요.” 그녀는 차분하게 말했다. “들어오세요.”
My heart pounded as confusion washed over me.
혼란스러움이 밀려들며 심장이 거세게 요동쳤다.
“I’ve never met your husband in person,” she began softly.
“저는 남편분을 개인적으로 직접 만나 뵌 적은 없어요.” 그녀가 부드럽게 말을 시작했다.
“We are members of the Disappearing Club. When life becomes too heavy, we borrow one another’s spaces and disappear for a while. Sometimes people just need a place where no one knows who they are.”
“우리는 사라지는 클럽의 멤버들이에요. 삶이 너무 무거워질 때, 서로의 공간을 빌려 잠시 사라지곤 하죠. 가끔 사람들에겐, 아무도 자신을 모르는 곳이 필요하거든요.”
It sounded absurd.
터무니없이 말도 안 되는 소리였다
And yet, I believed her.
그런데도, 그녀의 말이 믿어졌다.
The depth and calm in her eyes seemed to settle even my own restless heart.
그녀의 깊고 평온한 눈빛에, 요동치던 내 마음도 차분하게 가라앉는 것 같았다.
“You look… exhausted,” she whispered.
“많이 지쳐 보이시네요.” 그녀가 속삭였다.
At those words, the dam broke.
그 말에 억눌렀던 감정이 터져 나왔다.
Tears I had held back for so long spilled out.
오랫동안 참아왔던 눈물이 걷잡을 수 없이 쏟아졌다.
When I finally left the studio, my steps felt strangely lighter.
작업실을 나설 때, 내 발걸음은 이상하리만치 가벼워져 있었다
It was as if something heavy gripping my life had quietly let go.
마치 내 삶을 꽉 붙잡고 있던 무거운 무언가가 조용히 손을 놓은 것 같았다.
In my hand, I held a blue card she had given me.
내 손에는 그녀가 건네준 파란 카드가 들려 있었다.
-How to Join the Disappearing Club.-
-사라지는 클럽 가입 방법.-
I stared at the blue card for a long time, as if it were a ticket to some unknown world.
마치 미지의 세계로 향하는 티켓이라도 되는 것처럼, 나는 한참 동안 그 파란 카드를 들여다보았다.
If I were to disappear...
만일 내가 사라진다면...
Where would I go?
나는 어디로 가게 될까?
Flash Fiction#7
A few months ago, my husband quit his job without warning and rented a studio, saying he wanted to paint. I had not set foot in his studio. I knew how much he hated anyone prying into his work.
He would disappear for days and return as if nothing had happened. He never said where he went, and I stopped asking. This time, it was six days. Driven by a strange sense of unease, I finally decided to go there.
Only when I stood at his studio door did I realize I didn’t know the passcode. I tried his birthday, our wedding anniversary, every number that had once meant something to us. Nothing worked. Just as I was about to give up and turn away, I heard the lock click.
Relief and fury surged through me at once.
“Do you like making me worry? Don’t you even think about the person waiting for you at home? If you're back, the least you could do is call."
I was already yelling before the door fully opened, but then I froze. The person standing there was not my husband, but a woman I had never seen before.
“You must be looking for your husband,” she said calmly. “Please, come in.”
My heart pounded as confusion washed over me.
“I’ve never met your husband in person,” she began softly. “We are members of the Disappearing Club. When life becomes too heavy, we borrow one another’s spaces and disappear for a while. Sometimes people just need a place where no one knows who they are.”
It sounded absurd. And yet, I believed her. The depth and calm in her eyes seemed to settle even my own restless heart.
“You look… exhausted,” she whispered.
At those words, the dam broke. Tears I had held back for so long spilled out.
When I finally left the studio, my steps felt strangely lighter. It was as if something heavy gripping my life had quietly let go. In my hand, I held a blue card she had given me.
-How to Join the Disappearing Club-
I stared at the blue card for a long time, as if it were a ticket to some unknown world.
If I were to disappear...
Where would I go?
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