Cross The Bridge

Karl heard the voice in his head again, so clear, so slow;

“I guarantee the bridge will not collapse, the wood will hold, the ropes will be strong, but I cannot guarantee you will not fall off, only you control that”

He looked at the long bridge, studying the wooden slats and gently holding the thick rough brown ropes. It swayed slightly, yet he could feel no wind. From where he stood the bridge stretched out ahead, rising at some steep angle, the destination at least four-foot above him.

He knew he was nearly there, after the bridge there was not much further and he would be able to finally stop running. But he was tired, his strength and energy had started to fail him, he had already fallen three times just while running and he constantly felt someone was close behind him.

Behind him, he had been standing here for several minutes, they could be upon him, he had to take that first step, he had to. Slowly he looked outside the framed path of the bridge and saw the fall below, a hundred feet or more, the waves hitting the rocks below made no sound.

He gripped the ropes tight, pulled himself forward and stepped onto the bridge. It started to swing gently. He took a deep breath, pulled again and dragged his reluctant legs slowly further out onto the creaking wood. 

Suddenly he heard screams from behind him. He glanced at the rope, now framed by his white knuckled grip. His neck had developed a stiffness that told him he could not look around and he pulled again moving his legs faster. The bridge shook a bit more now and he realized he was quite a bit into the crossing.

“I guarantee the bridge will not collapse, the wood will hold, the ropes will be strong, but I cannot guarantee you will not fall off, only you control that”

The noise behind him had changed to sharp laughing and a sort of whoop whoop chant. He felt something cold on the back of his right hand, then his nose and his neck stiffened even more.

“No, not rain, please, just let me get across,” he whispered.

He kept staring at the wood in front of him but was conscious of light ahead.

“You can do it,” he heard a soft voice in his mind’s ear.

He started to smile as the noises from behind seemed more distant. The effort was tougher as the bridge was becoming steep and he felt like he was climbing more than walking. Pulling hard on the rope the rain was starting to fall harder and he feared slipping, dangling just from the ropes. He clenched his teeth, slowly stepping deliberately each foot carefully gripping the slippery surface. He felt pains in his upper arms as he pulled hard to move forward.

Suddenly he lost his footing  and his knees hit the damp wood. He gasped as he held the ropes as tight as he could. His breathing was deep and the moisture from the air was hitting the back of his throat. But as he looked up he could see the end edge of the bridge, just three feet away.

He didn’t try to stand, he pulled himself and dragged his knees across the last stretch. As he felt soft squelching clay on his knees he released the rope and fell onto the ground, whimpering, “I’ve made it, I’ve made it”

“Karl, Karl!” came a familiar voice to his side and he could feel a gentle grip on his shoulder.

“What,” he slowly whispered.

“You’re going to be okay, everything is okay, just keep talking to me.”

“Who? Who are you? What? What happened?” Karl continued.

“It’s me Philip, your brother, Philip. There was an accident, the car was hit by a truck, you’re okay though, you’ll be okay.”

“The bridge, I made it across the bridge,” whispered Karl.

Philip looked up at the paramedic to his side.

“Don’t worry, he’s in shock and disoriented, all to be expected.”

They glanced back at the tangled mass of metal that had once been Karl’s car.

Philip sighed, “When do I tell him about Claire?”

“That’s not for now, we’ve stabilized him and he’s going to be moved to the emergency department now, best focus on that,” the paramedic nodded as he moved away.

Karl was placed in the ambulance and as the doors shut Philip felt relief and sadness at the same time. He knew life for Karl would never be the same again, Claire had been his everything, she had made him what he was, and now he would have to continue alone.

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