We Can Turn Lead into Gold by Sofia Kekukh

It is the summer of 2023.

The summer of our twenties. Best years as people say. Together with Journey, we decided to go to the mountains with one special goal. Mountains. How much I love them. 

Oh, I’ve just forgotten to introduce myself. My name is Tomo, and I love travelling. Especially, mountains. Life is good. Sometimes it feels like too good to be true. 

But there is one who exists and makes life horrible for us. It is the spirit of war. It destroys our cities, it kills our people, it rapes women and takes innocent lives. I hate everything about him. 

The reason we decided to go to Portugal is a mysterious gold that can help us to stop the existence of the spirit of war.

Just imagine. We and Portugal. There are some destinations on the map we’re intending to see to find gold. Just the two of us. We are ready for adventures, wishing to see the ocean from the peak of the highest mountain and find a gem. Gold.

She was dreaming about Portugal since childhood. But she had no idea that we will come here to stop the spirit of the war.

Covilhā. A cozy small city in the northern part of Portugal. 

— Morning, Tomo! Time to wake up. 

— Good morning, Journey! Yeeeah, a few more minutes. 

— I’ll take a shower quickly, but please, don’t fall asleep. Promise me, ok?

— Sim, amore mio. 

Journey comes back, and sees a breakfast that l cooked. 

— Oh, wow! Unexpectedly.

— Yes, yes, that’s me. Why do you always have doubts about me? — he says jokingly.

— Because it’s you. I have never known what to expect from you next. We do crazy things together. 

— Ohhhh, Journey! Don’t doubt it, okay? Everything is like you wanted it to be, right?

— Right.

We had breakfast and went to buy some food. I created a map, and we went to the forest. 

Forest. Mountains view. 1200 metres below us. At the base of the southeast slope of Estrela, in Cova da Beira, an agricultural landscape of orchards and olive groves developed, favoured by a drier and hotter climate in comparison with the northwest slope. Marked by the Zêzere River, the landscape is the result of multiple transformations imprinted by human presence. The heritage left by the wool industry or the shepherding and the transhumance routes of Beira Baixa stands out.

— What do you feel, Tomo?

— Eternity. Those beautiful landscapes make my heart skip a bit. You? 

— Freedom. Mountains don’t talk. They are speechless. But there is something unimaginable about them.

I take one deep breath and enjoy the silence. It gets darker. We are sitting and enjoying the sunset. Goosebumps are dancing on her and my skin. The feeling of harmony. The feeling of life. The feeling of love. But the huge spirit of the war still destroys our country, our life.

All of a sudden, the weather has changed. The clouds become darker, and we barely can see the road. It is about to rain. Journey becomes nervous. She is scared. It is foggy here which means that the spirit of the war is coming. To kill us or to talk — just God knows. 

It seemed like the spirit of war intends to kill us. Oh, no. I love living this life.  

— I will continue killing your people unless you find gold, — the spirit of the war says. 

— Ok. Thank you for letting us know, — says Journey.

And then we started to look for it. But all our attempts are unlucky. 

— How can we do that? It feels impossible.

— Don’t ask yourself what if you can’t. Ask if you can. — tells Journey.

We have been looking through the forest and mountains. Picturesque landscapes have been inspiring so much. But we couldn’t feel our happy life when freedom of our people are at stake. Paradox. You are travelling to the country of your dreams to stop the war. It is insane, isn’t it? 

We reached the peak of the mountains. The landscapes were breathtaking. We met the sunset and the sunrise, looking for a magical gold. But there was nothing of it. Nothing else matters when there is a war you are trying to stop. Our knees are bloody, we are looking everywhere for it. 

The spirit of the war continues making war crimes. How I am mad at it! What is its’ goal in the world? To destroy our nation? To bring tears and ruin lives? 

— Tomo, I think I have found it. Come here and look.

— Journey, you are amazing! Yes, it is!!! 

We checked it carefully. It looked like a rock. But then…

— Journey, I am really sorry but it isn’t gold. It is lead. 

— Oh Gosh, Tomo. How is it possible? Look. At this mountain, this rock is only the one. There are no more rocks that can help us.

— You’re right. Hmm, let me think about it. 

A few more minutes later.

— Journey, what if we try to make it work? What if it works under some circumstances?

— Tomo, yeees! That’s a great idea! Let’s give it a try. 

We started holding it together, but it didn’t work. Then we were talking, and laughed as usual. We were making jokes and discussing the wise vibrations (that’s what we call interesting topics for conversation).

But, unfortunately, it didn’t help. 

The spirit of the war, so massive, has been hiding at the peak of the mountains. It created a great fogging so we couldn’t see anything. It started to rain there. When it rains, it means that someone from our country is crying right now.

Journey seemed devastating. I realised that we have nothing to lose and decided to tell her my secret. 

 

— Journey, I wanted to say it to you million times, but I couldn’t. 

— What?

— I love you. I love you with all my heart, I know maybe it’s not the right time for it, but at least you know.

— Oh, wow. I am speechless. Let me think about it for a while, ok? It’s just so unexpected, and… I don’t know. Come here.

She hugged me and became closer to me. My heart was really raising. I was really glad that I said it.

 

The mystery of love.

When she was looking at me, I kissed her. It was our first kiss. We’ve been best mates for a quite long time. I understood everything from her glance at me. Yeeees, she is in love. There is nothing better than mutual love.

 

We were holding a lead rock.

And then it started to shine with all the bright lights. 

— Wow. - says Journey.

— Wow. - I said.

The rain has stopped. The sun started to come out of the heavy clouds. We realised that our people stopped crying.

For a long time, the war ended. Everyone was happy as has never been that happy before. Unbelievable happiness. People started to calm down, come back to the country, celebrate and commemorate those who couldn’t be with us. 

The heavy spirit of the war was destroyed by the magic of love. It drives the world. The magic of love can start and stop the war, make you want to live and die, and inspire and support you. I believe love never dies. It’s the best real magical element that exists, not whatsoever happens. 

I hugged her, and we were enjoying the sunrise. And nothing else matters. It felt like the world has just stopped for just the two of us.  

She asked me, what is it to love? I smiled and told:

— Love is something that inspires you and your partner to be better versions of each other. It can give a very special meaning to anything, even to absolutely random stuff. You know us, right? :) When you influence each-other's brain chemistry, and just, you can feel it. Love is like a journey, a trip, an adventure, it can sometimes be challenging, but it’s so exciting it renders thoughts of its destination irrelevant. 

— I love you. - she whispered.

The goosebumps were dancing the waltz on my skin. 

— I love you. - I said, and my eyes were a bit in the tears of happiness.

What is the power to love? What is it to be in love mutually? 

Love drives the world, and us as well. 

Make love, not war. 

But if there is a wartime, don’t worry. All bad times end, and the power of sincere feelings will always stop that. Just believe and have a little hope. Be brave and honest with yourself. I was thinking, what if I didn’t say it to her, the war spirit wouldn’t be over? I even don’t want to think about it. The magic of love, thank you.