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| Bridge 3: Final |
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Scene 7
Scene 8
Assignment Explanation;
This assignment asks you to consider multiple perspectives by researching a site in New York City and creating a visual performance in this site for studio (documented in 8 photographs) and writing a creative group narrative that corresponds with the performance for seminar.
The unfortunate accident
“Why did he leave me?” I said softly.
I raised my gaze towards the Hudson River, which seemed bigger than I had ever seen it. The sky was so clear, and the sun was burning my forehead. There was no one on the brand new Brooklyn Bridge, only a carriage passed behind me. The bridge was barely damaged; it didn’t even have a scratch. The place where I was standing was where I met him, the poor worker who I truly loved for the first time in my life. The wind kept on carrying my blonde hair in every direction. But that did not bother me; all I had in my mind was my love. An unfortunate accident. What can be worse than an unfortunate accident? I couldn’t even see him before he disappeared. He was nowhere when I came over after the accident.
My heart was crushed into pieces, and it was even hard for me to breath. The memories with him kept on flashing back in my mind. The first time we met was on this bridge. I was desperate to make some money for myself so I was trying to sell my paintings, sitting on a bench beside the bridge that was on the Manhattan side. It was the best spot to draw because I could see the bridge, Manhattan, and Brooklyn from here. I was a poor and miserable painter. To survive, I begged from all the people who passed by. One day, I realized somebody was staring at me, and it was him. We stared at each other for a while and he ran over to me, looking a little worried.
“Hey, I like your paintings but you shouldn’t stay here. We are doing construction over here and it can be dangerous.”
He spoke gently. I still remember his direct gaze on me with his beautiful brown eyes. At this moment, I knew that he was a kind and honest person, and I fell in love. I went home that day after he warned me, but I didn’t listen to him and came over to see him every day. He found me the following day and said,
“Didn’t I tell you not to c ome around here?”
“Yes, you did. But I chose to come here to see you.”I replied with a smile on my face.
After then, we started to talk beside the bridge and by the time his work was almost done, we both knew each other well. I drew him often, almost every single day. When he was working, he was so concentrated on his work. I loved to draw his serious face when he was working. When I drew him, my brushes moved freely and smoothly and I let my emotion draw. It was the best moment of my artist life. He used to tell me that,
“You are so talented and all the paintings… I don’t want you to sell them because these are our memories together…”
So all the sketches and paintings of him were piled up under my bed.
“But, none of it is necessary to us anymore.” I murmured quietly.
I remember those nights we sat and gazed at the whole of Manhattan. He gave me a red rose once. To me it was more beautiful than a diamond. It was the only thing he could get for me as a gift. The warmth in his arms and his kind smile were the only things I needed. Even though neither of us had any money, we were just happy.
As I reflected on our memories together, tears came out. I did not know that I would feel this way because of him. I did not know how we fell in love. It was too sudden, everything happened too quickly.
The wind was getting stronger and stronger, my hair kept on sweeping in the air and it was hitting my back with its strength. I leaned forward with my upper body, slowly looked down over the bridge. All I could see was blue water. The reflection of the bright sunshine filled my eyes, and rapidly I looked up. I thought I already made up my mind but my body didn’t allow me to move how I wanted. I leaned on the edge of the bridge, and took a deep breath. Slowly I turned myself towards the river and closed my eyes.
“This is for him. This is for both of us.” I told myself for a few times.
I gently kissed the red rose that he gave me before he went away. I slowly placed it next to me with so many emotions in my mind. It was only yesterday that we talked and laughed for the last time, and it felt unreal that he was not on the bridge today and never would be again.
“John…” As I called his name, my voice was fading away and a teardrop ran down my face.
I took off my shoes and slowly climbed on the edge of the bridge. I raised my arms wide, and absorbed the whole atmosphere. I looked straight at the blue sky. The sun was hitting me from the side. It was quiet. My dress fluttered softly with the wind. As a strong wind pushed my back, I let myself fly. I flew towards him.
