Story Overview of “Coma”:

“Coma” is a contemplative narrative exploring themes of loneliness, existential uncertainty, and the blurred boundaries between life and death. The story unfolds in a hospital setting, where the protagonist, gripped by an undefined sorrow, sits indifferently by the bedside of a comatose patient. The oppressive atmosphere is heightened by metaphoric descriptions of night and dawn, symbolising despair and the faint hope of renewal.

As the protagonist reflects on his connection to the patient, memories surface—moments of companionship, shared tea, and existential conversations about loneliness and mortality. The hospital, depicted as a bridge between life and death, becomes a stage for the protagonist’s internal struggle. He encounters other figures, some veiled, representing the facelessness of grief and the universal experience of loss.

The narrative is punctuated by surreal and dreamlike sequences, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination. The protagonist grapples with the idea of masks—literal and metaphorical—questioning authenticity and the ways people hide their pain. The motif of the “locked house” and “lost key” further emphasises themes of isolation and the inaccessibility of true connection.

Ultimately, “Coma” is less about the specifics of a medical crisis and more about the psychological and emotional states evoked by waiting, uncertainty, and confronting mortality. The story leaves the reader with an impression of unresolved grief and the enduring question of what it means to be truly alive or already buried by one’s loneliness.

(For a detailed story overview with themes and symbolism, click here.)

Read the English translation of the story.