Ricci Schwarzler - Bridge

 It was an old Stonebridge with arches and thick sides. It must’ve been 400 years old. It was ancient. She was told to come to the bridge and meet her boss.  It was a bit of a strange request but she knew her boss had been after her for years and she wanted to see if he actually fit the dropkick persona that she’d always given him. Maybe he was misunderstood and she was the only one that misunderstood him.

She walked up the side of the river as the winter rains had filled it to its brim. The eddies formed and reformed disappeared and reformed again. She enjoyed watching the patterns they made instantly smooth and round in a wash of ripples.

She drew closer to the bridge and could see a figure. She knew it was him simply from the way he sat on the fence with one leg up leaning back on his hands trying to look casual and cool. For some reason he thought that was attractive and probably it was, because many women in the business chased him, but she wasn’t one of them. That’s probably the reason for his perusal.

As she approached, he saw her and was so busy trying to look cool that he leaned back so far and nearly fell over the edge. She didn’t want to destroy his coolness so reframed from laughing as he tried to collect himself and remain cool.

He talked and talked and hinted that they should go out without actually saying it. She refused to take the hint and wanted him to actually say it so that she could say no.  But he wasn’t that silly. He never wanted to make it so obvious that somebody could take it to his wife and say your husband has asked me out. So he alluded. In the end she grew tired of this game.

She looked him in the eyes and said:

‘Well I have to go now. It’s been strange…meeting you here. I’m not sure what the purpose was but please don’t bother asking me again’ and she walked off.

She stared back with a smirk and saw another woman approach the bridge.

He set up straighter and stared at this new woman. It was clear they were arguing and the new woman turned her back and stormed off. He looked relieved and triumphant, but on second thoughts the new woman turned back, approached him and promptly pushed him over the bridge. He fell and she watched his face in horror as he stared up at her wondering what had happened. He landed in the water and swam madly for the side…but he was never seen again.

The first woman waved at the second woman and they went to separate ways.

The end!