Feeling pretty good, I walk up to a bridge.
Once stepping foot upon the bridge, unbeknownst to me, appears a troll.
A clever troll, one that’s fit (more for than I am) but does not seek to battle me for the sake of defending this bridge.
What does it want?
It’s glaring at me in a way that makes me feel unsettled.
It’s no grin. Almost expressionless glare.
I ask the troll’s name, I get nothing.
I humor it, asking if it has any riddles for me.
Still nothing.
Just an unsettling glare.
I begin to cross the bridge.
After a few minutes of clearly walking forward, I have made no progress in crossing.
I begin to be more weary of the troll.
Who seems to be just following me, no glare, just matching my pace.
I walk faster.
No progress still.
Troll grows closer.
I walk very slowly.
Distance between the troll and I still shortens, yet at a slower pace.
I give a short sprint.
The troll is just outside of arms reach.
Glare returned.
I stop.
Troll stops.
I walk back in the direction of where I came from.
The familiar side of the bridge is much closer than I had expected.
The troll is suddenly gone upon my change of direction.
I return all the way to the edge of which I came.
Turn back towards the bridge.
No Troll.
Quiet, nothing but a weary breeze.
What did he want?
Was I actually in danger?
What would happen if he caught up with me?
I don’t want to find out, it can’t be good.
Regardless, I need to cross the bridge.
I begin to cross.
This time no troll.
I continue to walk.
Seemingly making progress to the other side.
I stop, confused, wondering why I happened upon a troll.
I continue to walk, still puzzled with my encounter.
I’m no longer making progress crossing, but still walking.
I stop, turn around to an unsettling glare.
I walk towards the area of which I came from.
Troll disappears.
Turn around to cross.
Troll is back.
Now I know the game.
Now I know how to beat the troll.
I am deeply frightened by the consequences of troll reaching me.
Why?
Nothing has ever made me this unsettled.
Nothing has ever made me doubt so much.
I know nothing good happens if he gets too close.
Will he try harder to reach me if I get closer to crossing?
Troll is nowhere to be found, yet he is still tormenting me.
This was day 67 of trying to cross the bridge.
I turn around to go home, to try again tomorrow.
Instantly relieved of the torment upon committing to procrastinating
Almost completely forgetting of the troll.
