via Daily Prompt: Hike

She met herself on a bridge
that she had built out of stones
that some had thrown at her.
That bridge connected
who she did and did not want to be.
With gratitude, she used every stone,
because they built her values.
Sure, she could have just swam.
But, treading would have eventually
just led to drowning.
She wanted a solid foundation
that she could hike up,
where she could see the view
of what came before
and lies ahead.
She is the bridge.