History of longing

Author's name: Mario Benedetti Publisher: Hayat Publications for Publishing and Distribution Year of publication: 2025 Literary classification: Novel Brief about the book: Since Jorge's death, Claudia comes every evening to lie on this balcony, as if watching the sea of pedestrians grants her reassurance. Grown men with rectangular bags resembling diplomat's bags, slow elderly women, proud young women with elegance, women taking dogs, workers in yellow uniforms, police officers, beggars, everyone runs back and forth, in that main corner, where Jorge waited many times when he left the bank to meet her, Claudia knew, or rather was completely certain, that at any moment (and it was not a specific moment) Jorge would appear; a picture of Jorge, walking among others, but more discreet and elegant than the others. It was a clear image, less than realistic, a mere transparent picture, perhaps because the last thing Jorge remembered was her eyes, or maybe because Jorge had warm eyes, and at the same time penetrating. Certainly, in her eyes, those eyes were not transparent; more accurately, she felt they became transparent whenever he looked into them. The image was transparent, so much so that Claudia could distinguish the other pedestrians as if they were walking behind a colored crystal. Herman told the story one night, smiled, and touched her forehead with his finger: What happens, happens, Hanaa. Then he held his finger with his hand and placed it over her heart itself: "Here too."