Travelers
Two travelers were hiking upon a dirt path that wound its way through a forest. They walked for days, and eventually reached a shallow river. A thin bridge was hung above it. The bridge was extremely unstable: dampened by years of spray from the river, dotted with holes, dilapidated in every sense. The first man said, “I shall go first to see if it is steady.” And so he tentatively placed his foot onto the bridge and, seeing that it did not break, ventured to ease the rest of his body on. Step by step, he reached the middle of the bridge. “It is safe!” he called to his companion. But the second traveler was not as conservative in his movements. As he set his boot onto the bridge, the whole structure crumbled, and both plunged down and were crushed by the peaceful rocks below.
The Rock
I have been thrashed about in the vehement waters of the ocean for nearly all of eternity, before I was spit out upon the sand, where I lie, cradled by the ceaseless noise of the waves; swinging in at times, then retreating back out, like a pendulum. But I am lonely. I have sat here for years, never having felt the smoothness of a human hand, the warmth of a human heart. I am beautiful: round, hardy, a dark, handsome shade of gray. But I am unappreciated, unobserved, even tread upon. They have kicked me, and I have rolled through the sand, only to stop in a new position. I try to ignore this, tell myself that if they were only to look at me, they would see how precious I am. I know that one day there will be a child who will pick me up, turn me over in their hands, admire my unique texture. This is what I remind myself each time I am passed by, or stepped on, or abused. I lie there, alone, unwanted. And one day I feel it: the fingers wrapping around me, lifting me into the air. At last! The day has come! I shall be loved, cherished! As the child toys with me in his hands, I glimpse his face: not adoring, but more like...amused? There is a second of horrible realization before he hurls me into the water, where I am swallowed and cast into the sand beneath.
