La Casa al Final del Camino
(The House at the End of the Road)
Cuando Silvia era niña, su abuela le contaba historias sobre la casa abandonada al final del camino.
When Silvia was a child, her grandmother used to tell her stories about the abandoned house at the end of the road.
Decia que era importante que nadie se acercara a esa casa, especialmente de noche.
She said it was important that nobody went near that house, especially at night.
Las ventanas estaban siempre oscuras, sin embargo, a veces se veian sombras detrás de los cristales.
The windows were always dark; however, sometimes shadows could be seen behind the glass.
Los vecinos del pueblo evitaban pasar por allí y nadie recordaba quien habia vivido allí.
The villagers avoided passing by there and nobody remembered who had lived there.
Ahora Silvia tenia treinta años y habia vuelto al pueblo para la herencia de su abuela.
Now Silvia was thirty years old and had returned to the village for her grandmother's inheritance.
Una tarde lluviosa, mientras caminaba por el sendero, vio la casa.
One rainy afternoon, while she was walking along the path, she saw the house.
La puerta principal estaba entreabierta.
The front door was half open.
Silvia sabia que no deberia entrar, pero sentia una curiosidad que no podia controlar.
Silvia knew she shouldn't go in, but she felt a curiosity she couldn't control.
Por lo tanto, empujo la puerta y entro.
Therefore, she pushed the door and went in.
El interior estaba cubierto de polvo y telaranas.
The interior was covered in dust and cobwebs.
Los muebles seguian en su sitio, como si alguien hubiera salido un día y nunca hubiera regresado.
The furniture was still in its place, as if someone had left one day and never come back.
En la mesa del comedor habia un plato con comida petrificada y un vaso de agua turbia.
On the dining table there was a plate with petrified food and a glass of murky water.
Silvia se acerco a una fotografía que colgaba de la pared.
Silvia went closer to a photograph hanging on the wall.
Se quedo helada.
She froze.
La mujer de la foto era identica a ella.
The woman in the photo was identical to her.
Silvia queria irse, pero sus piernas no respondian.
Silvia wanted to leave, but her legs wouldn't respond.
Entonces oyo un susurro detrás de ella.
Then she heard a whisper behind her.
Te estaba esperando, dijo una voz suave.
I was waiting for you, said a soft voice.
Se giro lentamente.
She turned around slowly.
No habia nadie, pero en el espejo del pasillo vio una figura que no era su reflejo.
There was nobody, but in the hallway mirror she saw a figure that was not her reflection.
La figura sonreia y levantaba una mano, como si quisiera que Silvia se acercara.
The figure was smiling and raising a hand, as if it wanted Silvia to come closer.
En ese momento, Silvia encontro la fuerza para correr.
At that moment, Silvia found the strength to run.
Salio de la casa y no miro atrás.
She left the house and didn't look back.
Corrio bajo la lluvia hasta llegar a la casa de su abuela.
She ran through the rain until she reached her grandmother's house.
Dentro, sobre la mesa, encontro una carta vieja que su abuela le habia dejado.
Inside, on the table, she found an old letter her grandmother had left her.
La abrio con manos temblorosas y leyo: Querida Silvia, es importante que sepas la verdad.
She opened it with trembling hands and read: Dear Silvia, it is important that you know the truth.
Esa casa fue nuestra.
That house was ours.
La mujer del espejo soy yo, o mejor dicho, lo que queda de mi.
The woman in the mirror is me, or rather, what remains of me.
No vuelvas nunca.
Never go back.
Silvia miro por la ventana.
Silvia looked out of the window.
A lo lejos, al final del camino, la luz de la casa abandonada se habia encendido.
In the distance, at the end of the road, the light of the abandoned house had turned on.
Y en la ventana, la figura levantaba la mano otra vez.
And in the window, the figure was raising its hand again.
Silvia cerro las cortinas y supo que algunas puertas no deberian abrirse jamás.
Silvia closed the curtains and knew that some doors should never be opened.
Key Vocabulary
la telarana the cobweb, the spider's web
entreabierto/a half open, ajar
el susurro the whisper
el reflejo the reflection
quedarse helado/a to freeze (with fear/shock)
tembloroso/a trembling, shaky
la herencia the inheritance
sin embargo however, nevertheless