Agent Goldfinch

Go easy on the princess

I don't fall. I remain suspended in mid-air, secured by the harness and shaking like a leaf. When I didn't feel the weight of the ground crushing me, I slowly opened my eyes. I'm so close to the top. It was just one tiny slip, so why do I feel so deflated? My muscles burn and sweat glazes every inch of my skin, daring me to move.

Summoning every last ounce of strength, I latch onto the handhold that I missed. Then I pull myself onto the next one, and the next.

With only a mild amount of existential crisis, I find myself in front of the breakfast and grab a banana and probiotic smoothie. I can't stand those disgusting protein bars. How I'm not having a full-on panic attack right now is a mystery to me that will be answered as soon as I land back on the ground using the technique I learned yesterday. My fingers began to shake and my breathing laboured. I need my meds, but I've conveniently left them in the cabin.

"Hey, you did great " I look up and see Gigi, curly hair puffed up around her and cranberry juice in hand looking down at me. "Are you ok?"

"U-um," I stutter. "I just need my meds, I-i didn't get to take them this morning."

"Okay, alright," Gigi puts a comforting hand on my back."Can you take a few deep breaths?"

I tried to swallow air but came up empty.

Gigi leads me over to Melodie, who glares at us for interrupting her pep talk to a teenage boy with sandy hair and ocean eyes.

With a curt nod, she dismisses us, but not before Tate speaks up.

"I'll go with them. What kind of counsellor would I be if I didn't look after my cabin? You got the rest, right, Mel?" He flashes her one of the smiles that make you want to do anything for him, to which Melodie nods dully.

Tate offers me his arm for support. I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to seem weak in front of him, but the pain is too much to bear. I take his arm and lean into him as we make our way to cabin four. They helped me look for my acid reflux pills, recently prescribed for me to take for a month, which was really inconvenient timing.

"I know this is like, the last thing you want to hear right now, but you did amazing up there." Gigi's always positive outlook makes me envious.

"She's right. The way you held your own was impressive." Tate winks at me when I slide the pill bottle into my backpack.

I laugh a little with a shiver. It was honestly terrifying.

Gigi slides in next to me, bumping my shoulder. "You wanna go back in, or call it a sick day?"

Tate slides on to my other side, so my skin lights on fire and I struggle to breath.

"I need to go back. I can't just leave and let them think I died or something."

"I can assure you, no one could possibly think that. You did amazingly," He shifts his body closer to me. "And you're definitely improving."

"Okay, okay. I get it. Thanks."

"Of course. It's a ton of fun to work with you, and you're an amazing student."
"I've actually never heard that before," I say as I rock back onto the bed. "They always said I was overly imaginative, always talking to my friends."

"Odd," he remarks and he rocks back with me. "They said the same about you."

We turn our heads in sync, locking eyes. As I'm about to say something, Gigi bounds back into the room.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt, but we really do need to get to hand to hand combat class."

Oh shit.

"Hey. Hey," Tate reaches over and puts a hand on my back. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."