The Chasm

[Excerpt from a draft]

The boy slowly, quickly, yet cautiously, climbs a few steps up past summit of the mountain. He has mounted the insurmountable. Looking back he sees nothing but a steep incline, what was just conquered. He nods with pride, confidently, as he continues moving forward a few steps. All the while, as he turns his head back facing the barely awoken midday sun, there is nothing but a sheer cliff, devoid of any light at the bottom, an umbra passing only a quarter of the way to the bottom.

A few rocks crumble underfoot, and trickle their way to the bottom, the clatter of impact being unheard by the boy. He steps back, looking fearfully at not only the bottom, but the vastness of nothing ahead of him. What is there to do? The path backwards is no longer feasible, and why would he? He has worked towards climbing. He sits down, contemplating what there is to do. He picks up a pebble and throws it across the chasm with reserved effort as there is not a chance the stone will hit the other end — if there even is one.