A Short Story: The Boy and The Bridge | Teen Ink

A Short Story: The Boy and The Bridge

April 6, 2024
By Esco836 BRONZE, El Monte, California
Esco836 BRONZE, El Monte, California
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Whoever gets to read this, let me tell you a story. A boy whose life was no different from the ordinary. A boy whose heart and mind couldn't fathom troubles, or problems, and who tried to love all. A boy who soon realized that life is unforgiving to most. This boy when it was time to no longer be a boy but to become a man, was confused and lost. So every night when everyone else was dreaming, he was awake, alone with a spectrum of thoughts and voices that he had created. One night the boy collected these voices, these thoughts and turned them into a bridge, and everyday no matter the time, the boy would stand on this bridge looking out at the stars free from the confusion and frustration of life. But one day he started to feel lonely, so he tried to bring people on to the bridge, but every time he would, these people would be cursed, and unfortunate events would happen to them. The boy would feel guilt because he was thinking he was causing these events. So one night he destroyed this bridge so that no one would be cursed, but when the boy destroyed the bridge, he was overwhelmed with voices and thoughts screaming at him, " What have you done, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE." The boy told the voices, " I was just trying to fix my mistakes, I was trying to break the curse that my bridge rotted a pawn on these people." The voices look at the boy and told him, "There was no curse boy, you made no mistakes, those were just events that happened which you can not fix, no matter how much you care and love them, sometimes you can't help, that's what life is about, it's not meant to be understood or predictable, it's meant to be complex, so that you get to see different types of stars no matter if it's the same sky." The voices continued, " Child, the bridge you built was strong and secure, but you opened and destroyed it for others because you thought that you were harming them, but it wasn't that at all. It was just their lives that happened and it seems that life wasn't fair to them, it doesn't mean you destroy or change what gives you comfort just because of them, you have a life as well….. and now that the bridge is gone, you must return to said life." "I'm sorry I can repair the bridge, I can fix this." The boy pleaded, "No you can not," the voices replied, "I'm scared, what if I get lost again," the boy told the voices, "Then look to the stars and you will find your way, you don't need us anymore, you never did." The voices told the boy as the sun started to rise, "Just keep smiling, because no one will smile for you." The voices told the boy as they started to fade away. The boy turned and looked at the sun, no longer a child, but a man ready to face what is to come.   


The author's comments:

This little piece was supposed to be just a random bit, but this piece is and still feels especially now since I am in my last quarter of my last year in high school, but this piece is helping me understand myself and I hope it helps any others who feel similar or the same. (Side note: I am new to writing so if anyone has any feedback it would be much appreciated.)


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