The Bridge
The Bridge
One day, years ago now, I walked across a bridge that disappeared. I wasn’t too familiar with the area. I was just passing through, and, seeing a parking lot, had stopped to stretch my legs. I think I probably just wanted to be on the other side of something, a river, anything. It was an old bridge, with two arches and a pier in the center, all of old stone. Too narrow for cars, and anyway it was far from the road. The bridge was covered in unmarred snow.
When I looked back the bridge was gone. It hadn’t collapsed, it just wasn’t there anymore. The river was low, easily crossable if one took care stepping on the slick, icy stones. I wasn’t worried about not being able to cross back over, but the disappearance of the bridge was concerning. Still, the strangest thing can happen and, if you’re alone, what are you going to do or say?
I didn’t want to walk away from the river for fear I’d become lost, but nor did I want to go back right away. I guess maybe I was feeling curious. So I hung my orange stocking hat from a branch so I’d know where I’d crossed the bridge that was no longer there, then walked along the river, first upstream, then downstream, as if I might find the bridge, as if it might have just moved instead of disappeared. It was getting dark. Worried that it would become too difficult to cross soon, I walked back to where my hat was hanging in some sort of allegiance to me, or to reality itself. Then I picked my way back over the rocks to the other side. Relieved that my car hadn’t disappeared too, I got in, drove off.
I don’t know why I’m telling you this. My life hasn’t changed since that day, as far as I can tell. It was just something that happened to me once. Telling you this, it’s sort of like telling someone a dream, but it wasn’t a dream. I think now that the bridge wasn’t a bridge that had always been there and then suddenly disappeared. I think it appeared just for me because of my longing to be on the other side. And having helped me cross over, there was no reason for it to remain. So it just faded away.