The Photo

Georgi knew it was still in his pocket.

When he saw the gravestone, he immediately put his hand in the pocket and picked it out. A polaroid photo, with its white frame. In it was a palace with strange roof, in red and gold, and many people were going inside of it. On the back it was written "The Forbidden city, Beijing". He had found it two days ago, while sweeping the alleys of the cemetery and had no idea where it came from nor where exactly was this palace. But when he saw the gravestone, which was covered with many photos like the one in his pocket, he knew that he found something important.

Georgi moved through the graves and kneeled in front of the stone. He looked at the photos - there were many buildings, places in the wild nature, few people. He knew nothing about those places. He touched one of the photos.

"Hey, what are you doing?", sharp voice from behind frightened him. He turned around and saw a man in his thirties, with a beard and slightly long hair.

"I,I... I", Georgi stammered.

"I don't want anything to be done on the grave, I've taken care about everything!", the man looked on the worn out working clothes of Georgi.

"I, I...". He took a deep breath. "I think this is yours. I found it in the parcel down the alley." The young man took out the photo. The other man's face changed instantly.

"Can I have it back?". His voice softened. Georgi gave it to him. The man took and looked at it with a smile. "Thank you! Here, take this!" The man took out a five leva from his pocket. Georgi looked at the money and the photo. He felt sadness that he will lose this mystery object.

"I don't want money, but I want to know where is this Forbidden palace and why are you doing this?" He pointed the gravestone.

The man frowned.
"I don't think it's your business, but I guess I owe you something in return. What do you want to know first?"

"About that palace... Is it something magical? Where it is?" Georgi sat on the ground and looked with curiosity at the man's face. The other one put out a packet of cigars and took one.

"Do you want one?" Georgi nodded, so the man gave him one and then lit his own. "This place is in China. . It was the place where the emperors of China were living. It's a huge place, surrounded with walls, so they could never see the outside world, barricaded from the reality. It was punishable with death to enter there without permission."

"But there are so many people on the picture?"

"It's now a tourist attraction. There are no more emperors in China. They are history. Only the place is still there."

"And you have been there? All those places?" Georgi read the name on the gravestone "Vasiliy Kolev".

"Yes. I've been."

"Why?"

"This was my little brother. We lost our parents when we were young, so I was working and he was studying in school. He always wanted to travel. East, west, north or south. He was climbing a lot around the mountains, he said to me once that he was feeling free there. So five years ago, on a hike he felt and was paralyzed. I took care of him, but he was dying from being tied to the wheelchair. He wanted to travel, so I promised him that we are going to travel. But I was too busy with my work and one day he died from complications.

So I decided to quit my job and with all my saving I went to all the places he wanted to go, looked, took pictures, had stories the same way he had in his travels. Then I came back to show him all these photos, because I hope that by this way he'll be there too. And now I'm here to say farewell again."

"Why?"

"In Beijing I met an old man. I told him my story and he smiled. Then he said to me, that travel is not for others, it's for ourselves and this means not to live it through the lens, but with the heart. When I came home I finally understood him. There is nothing to hold me here. So now, after I said all my stories to my brother, shared all those photos, it's time to find that world for me."

"Is it beautiful?" Georgi had visions in front of his eyes.

"Yes, and you'll see it for yourself one day!" The other man smiled.