UFF

: You are unable to pry the book from the person.

: You... can't bring yourself to throw it away.

exit the house

: You exit the house. You are not standing on the stairs, the short path to the river ahead.

forward to the river

: You cross the stepping stones over the river and arrive back in the forest.

To the right, the river. To the left, a small pebble road.

skip the pebble road over the river, and then use it to cross the river.

: You... are utterly confused.

You feel lonely.

Grab the pebbles that make up the pebble road, skip them over the river, and use them to cross the river.

: But.... you've just crossed the river using the same stones.

What you propose is to somehow walk into the river which you skipped over using the stones, take said stones and ...place them right back to go where you just came from.

This is the most abjectly stupid train of thoughts you have seen in a quite a while. You are deeply ashamed of everyone involved.