Summary

In “Mercuro,” Bennedith travels to Madrid on a writing grant. Instead of spending her first evening exploring the city, she spends it with a bottle of wine in the “two-bedroom apartment” where “she will be living” (4). She is 45 and has no interest in partying. Sitting by the window, however, she realizes life is happening below and decides to go out to a bar.

While sipping her cava, a man next to her introduces himself as Mercuro. He acts strangely, unnerving Bennedith. Each time she moves to leave, however, Mercuro begs her to stay. When she reveals she is from Sweden, he delivers a harangue about feminists. He talks about his wife, Soledad, the only woman he has ever loved (10). Though they had a happy life, he ruined it with “a bit of infidelity” (10). Now he is desperate to win her back. When...