Page 29 of Chasing Gold, Catching Her

“Yes. This old album stayed in my soul somehow… I can’t stop listening to it.”

“I like it too. He did an incredible job recording it, it’s one of my favorite albums. Sense of Human… it’s something unbelievable. Especially those little inserts between the tracks, they add so much atmosphere.”

“Yeah, exactly,” Alisa said, smiling. “I thought so too. I’m glad you listen to him too, that’s rare these days.”

“Yes, I haven’t listened to him in a long time. I should start again, thank you for reminding me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Alisa smiled and turned toward the window.

The lights of the night city flowed along the wet streets, decorating them in gold and white. She listened to the album of her favorite rapper, watched the rain trembling against the glass, and, leaning her cheek against the cold window, quietly fell asleep.

* * *

There was no need to rush anywhere in the morning; the next workout was only after tomorrow, so Alisa woke around 10 a.m. It was Saturday. She stretched in bed and immediately grabbed her phone. Noticing only a notification from her mother, she frowned, twisting a displeased grimace, and got out of her warm bed. She slid her feet into oversized slippers shaped like dragon heads and went into the shower. After washing, she sat down in the kitchen with panoramic windows overlooking the Kazan Cathedral.

Her parents had bought her this apartment when she moved in. It had a modern renovation, though the building itself was old, with enormous ceilings that seemed designed for giants, four meters tall or more. It was a three-room apartment, and Alisa lived comfortably here. Yet each time she spoke to her parents, especially her mother, her heart raced with nervousness and anxiety. They always reminded her that she owed everything to them, that they had sacrificed and worked tirelessly to make her dreams come true. Her mother constantly pressured her to be married and have children. Well, what the hell—children at 19? Almost 20, she thought, her birthday was approaching.

The phone lit up again, probably another message from her mother.

Alisa quickly made coffee from the machine, noting that only a few capsules remained. She would have to buy more. Settling at the table, she watched the steam rise from her coffee, dissolving long before reaching the high ceiling. She took the first sip and gently moaned in pleasure. Shifting her attention from the rain-soaked cathedral outside, she opened the messages from her mother.

Mother: Well, what place did you take?

Mother: It doesn’t matter anymore, I already found out from your coach.

A pause followed, then more messages arrived.

Mother: You didn’t write anything, you tvar’3!

Mother: Are you alive there? Or did you leave to celebrate your pathetic second place?

Mother: Do we pay so much for you to take second places? Who took first?

Mother: I didn’t watch the competition because I hoped you would tell me everything firsthand, but my daughter is selfish and can’t call her mother right after the competition. So I had to get everything from your coach. Fortunately, Valentina knows how to communicate adequately, unlike my damn daughter!

Mother: ALISA!

Alisa: Yes mom, second place, hooray.

Alisa rolled her eyes after finishing reading this flood of negativity, not the messages themselves, just the tone. She continued sipping her coffee while her mother stayed online and quickly sent another reply.

Mother: I’ve seen photos of the winners now, and I’ve already watched the entire competition stream. Well, you could do better than this pair of Norwegians! Anyway, you’ve been sued again, what one point! It’s terrible!

Alisa bit her lip and started typing.

Alisa: Yes, I also thought we would take first place… but it turned out how it turned out. One point is not a huge gap.

Mother: When will you give birth to grandchildren already?

Alisa: Mom…

Mother: You know, sometimes it seems to me that I shouldn’t have listened to Talia and sent you to figure skating! And we would have grandchildren by now and you would’ve have been married already!

Mother: And also you are incompetent!

Mother: You have not been to the Olympics since so many years of training!