The Shortest Distance — illustration

An Ember · August 23, 2026

The Shortest Distance

When I was in college, my laptop broke, and I was not familiar with the city where I was living. I did not know where to find a repair shop, so I carried the laptop with me after getting off the subway. It was very heavy.

Then I suddenly saw the building with the shop. It was directly across from me. But when I started walking, I turned the wrong way and ended up climbing onto a pedestrian bridge. From the bridge, I could still see the building. When I came down, though, there were not many crossings, and I could not tell which one would take me there. I even ran past it.

I spent almost one or two hours getting there, even though the distance was only about 60 to 100 meters. Only afterward did I realize I had been trying to cross one of the most difficult bridges in the city.

When I was in college, my laptop broke, and I was not familiar with the city where I was living. I did not know where to find a repair shop, so I carried the laptop with me after getting off the subway. It was very heavy.

Then I suddenly saw the building with the shop. It was directly across from me. But when I started walking, I turned the wrong way and ended up climbing onto a pedestrian bridge. From the bridge, I could still see the building. When I came down, though, there were not many crossings, and I could not tell which one would take me there. I even ran past it.

I spent almost one or two hours getting there, even though the distance was only about 60 to 100 meters. Only afterward did I realize I had been trying to cross one of the most difficult bridges in the city.