"Ir" magazine publishes "Domuzīme" short story "Plāksteris" on the end of a relationship

A short story titled "Plāksteris" ("The Bandage") has appeared in the prose section of the "Ir" magazine website. The piece was originally published in the literary magazine "Domuzīme," issue 4 of 2026, and is now available to a wider readership through "Ir."

The story is told in the first person by a female narrator who wakes on a cold, gloomy morning wondering whether the chill signals the arrival of autumn or reflects the emptiness left by a relationship that has ended. She compares her experience to a healed wound: the bandage that once covered it is no longer needed and gets thrown away, though the memories of what happened remain.

The dynamics of the relationship

The second part of the story recalls a past situation in which a man regularly complained to the narrator about another woman in his life, while she stayed silent, listened, and comforted him. She likens this role to leeches — initially therapeutic, but capable of draining all one's strength if not removed in time. When the man eventually returned to his former partner, the narrator was left with conflicting feelings of both relief and complete emptiness.

Through symbolic imagery, "Plāksteris" explores themes of codependent love and emotional exhaustion. Its publication reflects ongoing content sharing between "Ir" magazine and "Domuzīme," giving a broader audience access to contemporary Latvian short prose.