The Story of Irene

This slim book contains three poignant short stories that will take readers through a journey into the depths of human emotion, where myths are born, bonds are forged, and the sea whispers its secrets to those who wish to listen. 

In “The Story of Irene the Amphibian,” Irene grows up in the company of dolphins, her life intertwined with the ocean’s rhythm. Promised in marriage to one of her aquatic companions, Irene’s existence bridges the realms of myth and reality. When the islanders reject her fish-maiden beauty, a miraculous yet cruel fate unfolds, testing the bond between land and sea, humanity and nature. 

“The Sky in a Stable” tells the harrowing tale of five fugitives fleeing the horrors of war. United in desperation, they brave the night sea to escape German reprisal, their fragile boat carrying the weight of their hopes. Among them is a Jewish man whose haunting prayers spark an unexpected connection with an atheist—a meeting of souls against the backdrop of liberation’s distant shores. 

In “A Very Foolish Thing,” an old man, forgotten by his family and weathered by life, seeks solace by the winter sea. A single almond in his pocket unlocks memories of a miraculous wartime rescue. As he savors the taste, he reflects on life’s fleeting beauty and prepares to let go with gratitude, surrendering to the eternal waves.