El Jardín de las Decisiones
(The Garden of Decisions)
Marcos Ruiz tenia un pequeño jardín detrás de su casa en un pueblo de Andalucía.
Marcos Ruiz had a small garden behind his house in a village in Andalusia.
Desde que era joven, cuidaba las plantas con su madre.
Since he was young, he had been looking after the plants with his mother.
Ella le ensenaba los nombres de cada flor y le explicaba que era importante que las regara cada mañana antes del calor.
She used to teach him the names of each flower and explained that it was important that he watered them every morning before the heat.
Aquel jardín no era solo un lugar bonito, sino también un espacio lleno de recuerdos.
That garden was not just a beautiful place, but also a space full of memories.
Un día, Marcos recibio una llamada de una empresa de Sevilla.
One day, Marcos received a call from a company in Seville.
Le ofrecian un puesto de disenador grafico con un buen sueldo.
They were offering him a position as a graphic designer with a good salary.
Era la oportunidad que habia esperado durante años.
It was the opportunity he had been waiting for for years.
Sin embargo, aceptar significaria mudarse a la ciudad y dejar el pueblo, la casa y, por lo tanto, el jardín.
However, accepting would mean moving to the city and leaving the village, the house and, therefore, the garden.
Su madre ya no estaba; habia fallecido el invierno anterior.
His mother was no longer around; she had passed away the previous winter.
Marcos se sentia dividido.
Marcos felt torn.
Aquella noche, Marcos salio al jardín y se sento en el banco de madera donde su madre solia leer.
That night, Marcos went out to the garden and sat down on the wooden bench where his mother used to read.
Miro las rosas que ella habia plantado y penso en sus palabras: Quiero que seas valiente, hijo.
He looked at the roses she had planted and thought about her words: I want you to be brave, son.
Las raices no estan en la tierra, estan en el corazón.
Roots are not in the soil; they are in the heart.
Marcos no sabia si ella se referia al jardín o a la vida, pero en aquel momento entendio algo importante.
Marcos did not know if she was referring to the garden or to life, but at that moment he understood something important.
En primer lugar, llamo a su vecina Dolores y le pidio que cuidara el jardín.
First of all, he called his neighbour Dolores and asked her to look after the garden.
Dolores acepto encantada; siempre habia admirado las rosas.
Dolores accepted gladly; she had always admired the roses.
Después, Marcos recorrio la casa por ultima vez, toco las paredes y cerro la puerta con cuidado.
Then, Marcos walked through the house one last time, touched the walls and closed the door carefully.
Antes de subir al coche, corto una rosa roja del jardín y la guardo en su maleta.
Before getting into the car, he cut a red rose from the garden and put it in his suitcase.
Tres meses después, Marcos ya se habia adaptado a Sevilla.
Three months later, Marcos had already adapted to Seville.
Le gustaba su trabajo y habia hecho nuevos amigos.
He liked his job and had made new friends.
Sin embargo, cada fin de semana volvia al pueblo para ver el jardín.
However, every weekend he would go back to the village to see the garden.
Dolores cuidaba las plantas perfectamente.
Dolores was looking after the plants perfectly.
Un sábado, mientras regaba los rosales, Marcos sonrio y dijo en voz baja: Tenias razón, mama.
One Saturday, while he was watering the rose bushes, Marcos smiled and said quietly: You were right, Mum.
Las raices viajan con uno.
Roots travel with you.
Entonces saco su teléfono y llamo a Dolores para darle las gracias una vez mas.
Then he took out his phone and called Dolores to thank her once again.
Key Vocabulary
el jardin the garden
mudarse to move (house), to relocate
las raices the roots
el sueldo the salary, the wages
fallecer to pass away, to die (formal)
sentirse dividido to feel torn, to feel conflicted
en primer lugar first of all, firstly
darle las gracias a alguien to thank someone (lit. to give someone the thanks)