Burnished Bridge

In Burnished Bridge, Alex Dael is successful beyond his wildest expectations, but he still feels empty inside. When he reaches the pinnacle of his scientific career, he realizes that it’s the search and not the outcome that fuels him. He had been able to hide behind his desire for discovery, but now without it, he clearly sees the hole in himself. Then life plays the cruelest trick of all on him. He meets a woman, who stirs everything inside him, but she’s far too young for him and she’s with someone else. What’s worse is that the man she’s with treats her badly. Alex never experienced feelings this deeply before. He’s driven by his heart and not his head. His desire to see her turns quickly into hurt. Rather than face the constant reminder of a career that has peaked and the love he cannot have, he decides to walk away from it all.   

Alex believes it is because of us, the cosmos comes to know itself.
This time it returns the favor.


– Ray Melnik    

 Special thanks to Joann Horai for her creative editing and wonderful suggestions.

Thanks to Edward Hayman for his edits and personal discussions that helped me grow as a writer.

Thanks to Ingrid Michaelson whose song, "Maybe", from the album, "Everybody", inspired the idea for the story.

Thanks to Angelina, who sparked my interest in music again when she told me about the Michaelson album.