The most beutiful lake

by Fabiola Arroyo (Mexico)

A leap into the unknown Macedonia

I had been traveling for almost 6 hours, all the way from a city full of pink skies and coffee shops; Skopje, the capital of Macedonia is a place like no other I've seen before, full of eccentricity and odd statues. "Would I be able to scape if he tried to kidnapped me?" A flow of overthinking came alive, inside my mind, while waiting for a taxi outside of the empty bus station in this little town. "I don't get it" I started a discussion with myself, I've been alone a thousand times before, and yet, this felt differently. The dark night had arrived early on summer night, and I, all by myself, felt like a five year old again, terrified of obscurity. I picked a taxi and signaled the address on a piece of paper, hoping I would get to see sunset again. We arrived a couple of minutes later, that rather felt like ten thousand hours as I kept answering questions of me, asked with a broken English by an old man with a cold stare into the road. He seemed weirdly shocked that I was by myself, but failed to put it into words. I overpaid the driver, half because he was working pass midnight, half as a thank you note for not turning into reality all my crazy thoughts. I knocked the door, trying to act calm at first, followed by what I can only explain as desperation to feel safe again, in which would be my home for the next couple of days. After a couple nocks, a guy in his late twenties opened the door, he seemed a bit disoriented, yet he welcomed me with a warm smile and a twinkly light. Air came back to my lungs, and just then I realized I hadn't been fully alive for the last hour and a half. Dark places always seem darker when you're alone. He guided me to my new room at two am, and there, I felt safe again; I thanked him while he was leaving. His house was now mine as well, at least for a couple of days. I charged my phone, text my mom and then fall asleep profoundly, just to wake up to a couple of kisses; dog kisses. There it was, a furry friend next to me, just in time to watch the most amazing sunrise I have ever seen. And then, I felt glad to be here. Full with gratitude, I watched as the sun became alive too. Shining bright on top of the lake, Ohrid lake. It was more amazing than I could ever imagine. On top, the sky full of colors, welcoming the sun; down, a calm shade of blues, full of memories and life. Ohrid lake is the oldest one in all Europe. And I'm guessing, the oldest it gets, the prettiest it is. full of wisdom and stories we will never hear. After sunrise, I head to the communal kitchen; there I found myself welcome by hot, sweet breakfast and a table full of people from all around the world. None of us was in a hurry, and so, we ended up chatting shyly at first, and then, naturally. From religion to war, we became friends in under four hours. hearing and telling our own stories, without fear of being judge, after all, how different could we be if we ended up in the same place, at least for a couple of days? And there, facing the lake in a land far away from my hometown, I ended up meeting strangers who felt like long lost friends. I had come here with fears in my eyes, and yet, left with peace in my heart, I had found myself. A day will come, when I won't remember all, And yet, I'll remember this. Placid water, kind sky. Ohrid made me feel alive. Maybe for the very first time. How come a lake could teach me so much? Macedonia is now part of me. My heart. -A love letter to a lake