TE20 Migrant Mosaics

Portraits of Absence

XXIX Stefan, 28 years old, Dardania, Kosovo

In whatever workplace: a lowly position was offered, small wages after trading names and the obligation to stay. Take it or leave it they told me: sooner or later the paperwork comes. So I stayed half invisibleandmore space thanperson. Theygotmy name wrong when they called me but no one cared mattering little who or what dug into the work: ready meat with a hungry mouth and a mouth useless at speaking and at the entrance a long line of replacements, the same conditions

beggars crowding for a pittance, all the time …

47