Wrote what came out: Bridges [numero cinq]

This is where I am. I think it's definitely relateable.

It's Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 8:11 p.m., and I have a question.

Have you ever been standing at the edge of a ravine in your life? You get to where you are, and there's a rickety bridge before you, but you have absolutely no clue what awaits you at the other side, because a gigantic fog just settled in. You can look back and see the course that got you here... GOD, is it a winding path! You would never have imagined ending up here when you started your journey. Your next steps are uncertain, and they may or may not result in your ultimate demise. You don't know what to do, so you do nothing.

Suddenly, you notice a stone bridge. It's complete with stairs once you get about halfway across. Since it leads down to a foliated path to the west, you can see under the fog, and you know exactly what you'd be in for, if you so chose to take that route. Seems smartest, right?

As you head toward the stone bridge, a sweeping wind rushes against your face. A sign perhaps? Is something beyond you encouraging you to take the swinging bridge to the east? You look out over it, and the fog thins. You can see something shimmering in the distance. Water? You're parched. You've been wanting a sip of water for as long as you can remember. The fog comes back in in another rush. You don't know if there even is water on the other side. Something about the possibility tempts you, though.

There is a mixture of living and dead flora to the east, conflicting omens. Maybe the bridge can't even hold your weight. How will you know, though, unless you take the first step? With the wind at your back, you pick up your right foot and hold it over the first board of the the bridge. Now's a good time to decide. Take a leap of faith or go the safe way?

Yeah. That's where I am right now. I don't quite know what to do. DANG, that water (just the thought of it) makes me want to take dead aim and run for my life across the bridge that leads east, but the thought of my foot going through a board on that bridge or the beasts the may await me on the other side or the safety that I'd be giving up by forgoing  the bridge to the west make me think twice before taking that first step of faith.

Luckily I know a sign, a real, tangible, reliable one is on its way. I suppose I'll just have a seat and wait for now. For those of you who aren't quite lucky enough to have the assurance of a pending omen, best of luck to you. You just might need it.

Author's Note

No advice wanted. :)

Reviews

[Kristin Brecoe]

you need no advice. i was expecting something completely different. this gave everything thats going on, but nothing all the same. this was a nice piece kristen...

and now im thinking of where i am. haha. i dont think of bridges... i think of me tossed out into the ocean..sometimes theirs a perserver, others im treading...or just flat out drowing in my cliche little sorrows!