Ivana Pavićević

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Sep, 2024

Stories (10)

10 Stories

179 karma pts

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“Art is Dead” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #277

Art is dead. For decades, we all knew it would be killed. We fought, but in vain. At first, we did what artists are expected to do—speak the truth and act as society's mirror. But the authorities privatized cultural institutions and treated them like personal property. Budget theft, public procurement scams, banning plays, films, exhibitions... They decided what could and couldn’t be said.Then, we began speaking the truth in our own names, but anyone who uttered a word against the government was branded a traitor. Some were even barred from ...

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“Bitter Sweet” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #275

I was born a witch. But until my late teens, I didn’t know. My family couldn’t have guessed because some of them don’t believe in witches, and others are so afraid of them that they deny their existence. So, some of them didn’t believe in me, and some even denied my existence, which deeply affected my entire life. As a child, I was pure-hearted, always there for others, a fair player, a great fighter for justice and truth. But the childhood of a witch is very difficult. I remember, when I was five years old, my father sat me on his lap, aski...

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“Vanishing” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #274

On my wedding day, everything pointed to it being the happiest day of my life, one with a future that held endless promise. Green rakija was served, and guests danced as if in a wild, uncontrollable swirl. The band played "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, though I didn’t recognize it as a sign at the time. The groom was late and passed me off to his younger brother to walk with me. People whispered about how sweet he was but that he seemed a little young for me, which I found more funny than worrying. The groom forgot to bring the...

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“The String” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #273

The story I’m about to tell you must remain a secret. I beg you, please don’t tell anyone. You will disrupt the order. Everyone has their own truth and we need to leave it that way. --- I am a ballerina. Or rather, I was a ballerina until a few seconds ago. Now, I’m somewhere else. There’s nothing—just an empty space, infinity. I turn around, but the feeling is strange when there’s no perspective, nothing around me. Nobody appears. Actually, they don’t appear, I just know they’re there. “You guessed right. I am Nobody. But this isn’t somewhe...

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“Chess for Three” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #273

Invitation. I never get any mail. But every morning, as I brew my coffee, I dutifully check the mailbox. It’s because I keep hoping that one day, I’ll find something that will finally change or kickstart my life.The mailbox isn’t the only thing I expect so much from. Occasionally, I force myself to attend a concert, hoping for the same, but jazz is barely listened to these days, so staying at home is not entirely my fault. Every year, I also go to the same place by the sea for an art festival. I consider that as another attempt to give life ...

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“The Tenant” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #273

Who lives in the apartment next to mine? Who the hell lives next door?He goes out late every night and comes back early in the morning. He moved into the apartment next to mine about two years ago, and in all that time, I’ve only managed to catch a glimpse of him from behind at the building’s entrance. He was wearing a transparent raincoat with a hood made of a thick nylon. What kind of job requires you to work at night in such an outfit? A chill ran down my spine. He’s out at night but never leaves the apartment during the day. His TV is al...

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“God Only Knows” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #271

I have always taken pride in my strength to smile, be polite, and well-mannered, no matter how I actually felt. That's why I was shocked when, in a new city, among new people and colleagues, having transferred to a new company, I visited every department and introduced myself, except one. In the office sat about ten people, none of whom were interesting enough to describe, except Him—another stranger. I appropriately introduced myself to everyone with a handshake, and while they were all obviously staring at me, I nonchalantly passed by the ...

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“The Visit (Inspired by the play The Visit of the Old Lady by Friedrich Dürrenmatt)” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #270

"Stop the train," she said in a cold, indifferent tone. "But ma'am, the trains never stop in Gilen," the conductor responded nervously. "Give him 500 euros," she said to her servant in the same unchanged tone. The servant, as if knowing exactly what was expected of him, handed over the money. Klara stood up, limping ever so slightly, and made her way to the exit. The conductor quietly added, "You should have pulled the brake." With a smile like the Mona Lisa but with eyes brimming with malice, she responded casually, "I never pull the brakes...

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“The Circle” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #268

I am dead. I have been dead for forty years. The reason I want to tell you my story is not the fact that I am dead. The dead don’t care that they’re dead; it’s the living who fear Death. Since I have no enlightening story about Death that would comfort or scare you, I won’t be writing about that. The point is rather to warn you that the saying you’ve come up with, "As you sow, so shall you reap," is much more intense in its prophecy than you actually believe. "Where should I begin?" "Always start at the beginning." I died at birth, so I have...

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“Absurdistan” by Ivana Pavićević

Submitted to Contest #267

I’m in pain. My body aches. I don't know which part—everything hurts. I wake up on wet grass, pierced by the harsh needles of a pine tree leaning over me. Brilliant sunbeams pierce my eyes, and around me, there’s a violent stench of mud, alcohol, urine, and tobacco—not necessarily in that order. With my head pinned to the ground, I manage to pick up my starved, battered body, barely able to move. I feel a desperate need to run away from here, wherever "here" is.Mandala. Where am I? India? No cows. Mandala on the wall. Mural. I remember discu...

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Author bio

Ivana Pavićević is 42 years old actress from Serbia with more than 20 years of experience in theater. She also writes for art magazine, was owner of a jazz music club, is a president of art association- primarily dedicated to theatrical work with children.