on a stream with three rocks

and hope and. expectations

I could easily step to the first rock. It was solid. It took my weight without shaking or rocking. I could count on it to support me.

The second rock was similar to the first. Though it was a bit more of a stretch, I managed to get myself there without much trouble. It too was solid. I could expect that it would remain so.

The third rock?

The third rock was just out of reach. I could probe it with neither toe nor stick. It was a dodgy looking rock. One of those rocks that doesn’t surface often. When it does, it’s still clad in the greasy green rock slime that grows on such nasty little rocks.

Though I didn’t have any experience with this unsightly, slightly out of reach rock, I expected that it was going to be a fucker.

Paused on rock two, I considered my options.

1: Standing leap of faith - that would be remain on rock number two and hope that not only am I able to reach rock number three from rock number two, but also that once I make contact with rock number three, it’s actually able t…