I had never thought that this would happen to me at this age of time.

Being raised to become the next chief of my village, learning how to fight, hunt, dictate, lead; was required.

But what my mother never prepared me in this lifetime was love.

In my village, women were created equally and trained just as hard as men.

We obtained knowledge from past generations and became prosperous. But we were a hidden utopia and never been outside the forest of paradise.

I was told long ago that a woman of my tribe was my age when she was warned to never cross the bridge by our soothsayer.

She ventured until reaching a beautiful bridge, overseeing the entire land from the majestic mountains and calm river passing through the peaks.

The woman was so transfixed that she walked onto the bridge.

She stopped halfway when hearing a ferocious growl from across the other side of the bridge.

A humongous, ferocious bear appeared with the sharpest teeth and claws. With a roar, it ran towards the woman in anger.

The woman was going back when seeing her beloved running towards her and the bear.

She tried fruitlessly ran back as the bear's pursuit and weight stumbled her footing on the bridge.

The bear swiped its claws in her direction, but with skill from her village, she moved with a quickness.

The woman knew that her beloved would do anything especially giving up his own life.

She begged him to go away but he refused and fought the animal so fiercely that the bridge began to come apart.

He turned around with resolve and said “I’ll find you again, ”

Watching helplessly as her beloved fell to his death along with the bear. She screamed out in heartbreak was told that instantly the woman died by heartbreak.

That's when the tribe named the torn bridge, “The Heart Break bridge.”

The mountains were as majestic as the night sky as my tears fell down my face.

The longing for someone to call my own without being the beneficial joining of tribes.

I had never seen him before and I feared that it would be a loveless marriage.

Which is the reason for my visit to the Broken Heart bridge.

I was selected to welcome my fiance’s chief and family to paradise.

My heart was broken over the injustice of being joined by someone who I never met.

The soothsayer had told me that I would lead the tribe to prosperity but it would involve crossing the forbidden bridge.

I watched as the family appeared with masks on their faces crossing the bridge when witnessing something larger coming for them.

“Run!” I screamed as the family ran across the bridge.

I moved through them to face a huge bear roaring in anger.

With precision, I dodged the swipe of the bear's claws and attacked the beast with a warrior's shout.

I continued to be one step ahead of the animal when I was sideswiped on my shoulder.

The bear rose with anger and was about to pounce when someone grabbed the creature’s paws with his/her hand.

It was her masked fiancee and with a nod, I dealt the finishing blow.

My rescuer wore a traditional mask that covered the entire face but with thanks, I lead them to my village along with the bear's carcass.

I brought them to my parent’s home and disclosed what had happened at the bridge.

My parents displayed different expressions but the last one was shocked.

The neighboring tribe introduced who helped me and it was none other than my fiance.

They welcomed the neighboring tribe and agreed to the marriage tomorrow.

On the day of my wedding, the tribe gathered singing that involved unity, strength, and honor.

Once joined by the soothsayer, they retired to their very own hand-built home.

I couldn't see his face until he removed the mask to reveal a face that echoed in my soul.

His eyes were as dark as a moonless night and his face was strong with full lips, strong chin, and chiseled.

“How do I know you?” I whispered in wonder.

He brought me close to him and kissed me.

As I returned the kiss, images poured into me filled with pain.

Last image that appeared of a man falling to his death with the bear.

“My Love!” I said with tears.

“I told you that I’ve found you, ” He reminded.

And we kissed as lovers of old.