La Ventana del Quinto Piso
(The Fifth Floor Window)
Teresa Molina llevaba tres noches sin dormir bien.
Teresa Molina had gone three nights without sleeping well.
Cada madrugada, exactamente a las tres y cuarto, una luz se encendia en la ventana del quinto piso del edificio de enfrente.
Every early morning, at exactly quarter past three, a light came on in the window of the fifth floor of the building opposite.
Lo extrano era que aquel piso llevaba vacio mas de un año.
The strange thing was that the flat had been empty for over a year.
Nadie vivia allí desde que la antigua propietaria, Doña Carmen, habia fallecido.
Nobody had lived there since the previous owner, Dona Carmen, had passed away.
Sin embargo, alguien o algo encendia aquella luz todas las noches.
However, someone or something was turning on that light every night.
Al principio, Teresa penso que seria algun problema electrico.
At first, Teresa thought it would be some electrical problem.
No obstante, la luz no parpadeaba como una averia.
Nevertheless, the light did not flicker like a fault.
Se encendia durante exactamente veinte minutos y después se apagaba.
It came on for exactly twenty minutes and then went off.
Además, a veces Teresa creia ver una sombra que se movia detrás de la cortina.
Furthermore, sometimes Teresa thought she could see a shadow moving behind the curtain.
Aunque no estaba segura, tenia la sensacion de que alguien la observaba desde aquella ventana.
Although she was not sure, she had the feeling that someone was watching her from that window.
Una noche, Teresa decidio investigar.
One night, Teresa decided to investigate.
Cruzo la calle y entro en el portal del edificio.
She crossed the street and entered the building's entrance hall.
La puerta del quinto piso estaba entreabierta.
The door to the fifth floor flat was ajar.
Empujo la puerta con cuidado y entro en el piso oscuro.
She pushed the door carefully and entered the dark flat.
Olia a humedad y a flores secas.
It smelled of damp and dried flowers.
En el salón, junto a la ventana, habia una lámpara conectada a un temporizador automático.
In the living room, next to the window, there was a lamp connected to an automatic timer.
Teresa suspiro aliviada.
Teresa sighed with relief.
Es solo un temporizador, penso.
It is just a timer, she thought.
Sin embargo, cuando estaba a punto de marcharse, vio algo en la mesa del salón.
However, when she was about to leave, she saw something on the living room table.
Era una carta escrita a mano, fechada tres dias antes.
It was a handwritten letter, dated three days earlier.
La letra era clara y decia: Querida Teresa, se que me ves desde tu ventana.
The handwriting was clear and it said: Dear Teresa, I know you can see me from your window.
No tengas miedo.
Do not be afraid.
Soy Lucia, la nieta de Doña Carmen.
I am Lucia, Dona Carmen's granddaughter.
He vuelto para recoger las cosas de mi abuela.
I have come back to collect my grandmother's things.
Cada noche vengo después del trabajo porque durante el día no tengo tiempo.
I come every night after work because during the day I do not have time.
Perdoname por asustarte.
Forgive me for frightening you.
Teresa se rio de si misma.
Teresa laughed at herself.
Durante dias habia imaginado fantasmas y misterios, pero la explicación era mucho mas sencilla.
For days she had imagined ghosts and mysteries, but the explanation was much simpler.
Al día siguiente, espero junto a la puerta del edificio hasta que vio llegar a una mujer joven con una caja de carton.
The following day, she waited by the building door until she saw a young woman arriving with a cardboard box.
Tu debes de ser Lucia, le dijo Teresa con una sonrisa.
You must be Lucia, Teresa said to her with a smile.
Lucia la miro sorprendida.
Lucia looked at her in surprise.
Y tu debes de ser la vecina de enfrente que no puede dormir, contesto riendo.
And you must be the neighbour from opposite who cannot sleep, she replied, laughing.
Desde entonces, Teresa y Lucia se hicieron amigas.
From then on, Teresa and Lucia became friends.
De vez en cuando, tomaban café juntas y recordaban a Doña Carmen, la mujer que, incluso después de morir, habia conseguido unir a dos desconocidas.
From time to time, they had coffee together and remembered Dona Carmen, the woman who, even after dying, had managed to bring two strangers together.
Key Vocabulary
la madrugada the early morning (before dawn)
encenderse to turn on, to come on (light)
la propietaria the owner (female)
parpadear to flicker, to blink
entreabierta ajar, half-open
el temporizador the timer
hacerse amigos to become friends (lit. to make oneself friends)
las desconocidas the strangers (female, lit. the unknown ones)