Stepping Stones

A short story

 “Dad, why do people grow up?” I ask as the road winds, the destination ensconced by mountains and thoughts. Dad laughs with perplexity and attempts to answer: “If you don’t grow up, your past will catch up to you and your future will get away”.

It is catching up to me, those footsteps. My breath heightens and my eyes strain to focus on the present and beyond. I quicken my pace but so do the footsteps: running, running, sprinting. I strive to remember what I’ve learned:

Dad’s voice echoes: “In the real world…you’re going to have to make goals for yourself. For simple sanity, achieve that goal, wholeheartedly.”

There is no moon tonight. I plunge into my own perseverance to achieve and to accomplish. I must find my own way now and there is no moon tonight.

The vines of my thoughts wrap around me, pulling me to the past, but I refuse to accept. “How do you do it, Dad?” The road continues to twist and turn. “How do I do what?” he asks. I look out into the future and ponder for a minute: “How do you keep running when all you want to do is give up?” I look ahead: the road begins to straighten out.

He takes his eyes off the road to glance my way and say to me: “Sometimes, you’re going to feel like you have to give up, but I want you to tell yourself one thing: Take just five more steps.”

My stride lengthens to breach the darkness as the branches begin to thin. My legs, numb and streaked with pain, push forward and I want to stop, to give up. I breathe and

take

just

five

more

steps. 

As my past follows behind me, I step into my future.

 

Reviews

[Anor]

This gives a rather tense feel, especially because of the way you've used your paragraphs. Well done, with that! I can see that there is some deeper meaning behind the story, but you've done a good job, and have kept it tantalizingly secret from us while waving it front of our faces.

On the whole, I like it, it's not bad, but that's not too say it couldn't be better.

[Tracey C.]

Very well written! Lovely story =)

[Traci]

I like the way this is written. There is a deeper meaning behind the story, written with wonderful insight. Love the last sentence. Great job!

[Time's The Bond]

It's almost like this story speaks in riddles, it leaves the reader thinking about the future and the past or it did so to me, I enjoyed this.
Keep it up!