The Echoes of Words

Without a single glimpse of hope to find something interesting, lost in another huge queue of ordinary tourists, there I stood, waiting my turn to get inside the so-called Westminster Abbey.

In my heart, a hungry desire to discover some sort of unexplainable treasure; in my hand, a Spanish university pass that would allowed me to get a cheaper ticket to “another huge English cathedral”.

I got inside the “tourist attraction” before two old ladies discussing heatedly about embroidery, and after a Chinese family fulfilling all possible clichés about Asian people on holiday. My university pass accomplished its mission.

Rebel, unconcerned…a young insolent Dean Moriarty-to-be, quiet unaware of the strong bound I was about to reach with my future in that place, in that moment.

Up to that moment, I had been into books without being actually aware of the magic they were, drop by drop, instilling into me. Looking back on the past, I wouldn´t remember an image of myself without a book in my hands. Always. Naturally.

Well, I lost of sight the two fighting ladies and the Chinese family and walked around the place. After a little while, I was too bored to see more tombs of kings and queens. I was absolutely determinate to get out when I realized I was lost, as usual. Angry and furious, eager to find the exit, not knowing were my feet were heading me, I found a chamber, better said, a corner; even better said, I found the Poet´s Corner. It would be too easy to say that I stood totally amazed by the vision before me. All those great minds, masters of verses and holly paragraphs, piercing my eyes beautifully. This could be the end of the story; my path chosen by the inspiring moment. It isn´t, actually, because in the climax of the moment, I saw something on the floor. A piece of paper wrapped near Dylan Thomas´ memorial. As I couldn´t resist, I took it and opened it:

“The echoes of your words changed my life, "and death shall have no dominion". Thanks, Mr Thomas.”

I entered Westminster Abbey being a tourist and went out of it knowing that powerful words and the voice of a writer can change people´s life. My destiny was settled that day, I would die a writer.