Photo by Isaac Meneses Roldan

Colombian writer Octavio Escobar Giraldo (b. 1962, Manizales) has received national and international awards for his novels, short stories, and poems, some of which have been translated into French, Italian, and German. His recent publications include the novel Cada oscura tumba (2022; Every dark tomb) and the book of poems Manual de hipocondría (2022; Hypochondria handbook). He is a physician and university professor. “Penance” is his debut in English. Photo by Isaac Meneses Roldán