There was a cave in my writing prompt, which was the Virtual Writers' World prompt post for the week beginning January 19 (link in comment below), but there was also this: "Use the following words to inspire a poem or short story: injure, kiss, bridge." And I got rebellious about the kisses. "I dislike the way the Virtual Writers World prompt usually comes back around to something 'romantic,'" I wrote, "so let's be seditious and make it metaphorical." The waves could kiss the shore, but damned if the injured soldier was going to kiss anyone on either side of the bridge.
Generally speaking, I'm part of a U.S. generation that grew up associating war with oil-haunted desert sands. I tried not to linger in that lazy cliche. The bridge, my main character's escape out of the frying pan and into a miraculous fire, was also an escape for me, an opportunity to take the story far away from anything you'd see on CNN.
YOU ARE READING
A Bridge Just Far Enough (Excerpt)
Short Story"...the last few steps you'll have to take alone." (Shel Silverstein, "This Bridge")
