He told grandpa what he wanted for his 10th birthday.
“A bridge! Why?”, grandpa laughed.
That laugh froze the words in his mouth: “I love the big tree. Playing on it’s branches makes me feel loved and secure, like being in my mother’s womb”.
Anyway, who spoke of feelings? “Only girls do that!” he remembered father saying often. So he just shrugged feigning nonchalance.
On his birthday he ran out to the meadow and saw the new bridge. His excitement turned to tears. Grandpa had cut his favourite tree to build the wood bridge.
He never once crossed that bridge.
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The above 100 word story is written in response to the 100 word photo challenge posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Field each week. Photo prompt by Sandra Crook.
Roots & Water 