The Islands Separated by a Bridge

By: Ihsan Nur Iman Faris

Once upon a time there was an island, a deserted island

Out of nowhere, there were a man and woman came to that island

At their first sight, there was nothing

But as their sight met often

They fell in love to each other

Trees, flowers, soils, mammals, insects, lives…

They’re flourishingly-grown

As love of the couple watered the deserted land

Sometimes, there were terrible earthquakes shook the island

Both the man and woman were scared every time they came,

They held hands

And said everything’s gonna be okay

They seemed to be survived

There was no scratch on their body

But not on the land they set feet

One day the earthquake shook the land again

But unlike the previous earthquakes

This one was way much bigger

They gripped each other’s hand tighter

Didn’t know where to go, they could only run

Until they’re separated and lost

Among the corpses of animals, falling trees,

Among debris and rubble

Of things they have nursed for so long.

They desperately looked for each other

In a hoarse sound they voiced their love’s name

Then they found that they’re stood in two different lands

Separated by a very big crack caused by the massive earthquake

They tried everything to feel the warm hug again

They jumped, climbed, swam,

Their efforts were futile

The gap between the two islands was too wide

One day, when they tried to explore the brink of the islands

They found there was a bridge, formed by a big falling tree

It was a light of hope for them to hold hands again

Though the bridge was too friable for two people

And couldn’t be used twice

Then, the question was:

Who should cross the bridge and get to the other side?

Instead of crossing the bridge, the couple started arguing

Over which island was better

The woman said that the man’s land was not fertile

She said that living beings would not flourishingly-grown there

The man said that the woman’s land was the epicenter of most of the earthquakes

He said that they would live in anxiety and fear there

Nights and days the bridge was witnessing the debate

Between which one was wrong and which one was right

Finally

They got tired!

They’re dog tired!

They’re tuckered out!

And instead of crossing the bridge

They took a flammable liquid

And burn the only bridge connecting the two islands

The only hope to glue the hands separated for so long

Without any word

Without blaming anyone

They turn around

Showing their back against each other

And went away to the opposite direction

Where the shadows were getting smaller and vaguer every second

It’s maybe, just maybe

Since the earth is globular,

As the keep walking on the opposite direction

They probably meet again on the central point of the earth

Or maybe, just maybe

They will not meet at the central point of the earth

Because somebody may have stopped them walking

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