Looming in front of you is the balloon as your childlike grin grows into a huge smile. You stare up in amazement at the colourful flowers on the enormous fabric that fills your view. I pull your hand and we walk over and get in the basket. Excitedly, your hand grasps mine as you look around. Staring up into the chasm, you see where the heated air fills the balloon.
I lean over and release the ropes. The gentle pushing on you as we rise increases your exhilaration. You grab the edge of the basket and lean over as we go up. You wave to the people below, smiling, as you bid them farewell. I stand behind you and can feel your happiness, even though I know it will be temporary. Shrinking smaller, the people are reducing in size as we climb higher and higher. Happiness fills you. Happiness squishes the sickness that overtakes you most days. The sickness that suffocates you, so you cannot summon the energy to merely escape your bed in the morning.
Now, the view is breathtaking. You have never seen your city in this way before and struggle to recognize a few things. Frequently, you gleefully point them out to me. I see you smiling and laughing and I put my arm around you. You turn and wrap your arms around me and bury your head in my chest. Closing your eyes, you feel yourself floating in the air. Holding me tight. You are so damn happy that you never want this feeling to end.
After fifteen minutes, you finally release me and look up and give me a soft kiss. "Thank you," you say softly. Turning to the edge again, you look at the distance. The landscape goes on forever on this still clear day. You smile as you see the park where we take our morning walks when the weather and your mood cooperate. Then you see the field where we fly kites. I put my arms around you and kiss your cheek. I enjoy your happiness.
Turning your head, you see your apartment. You shriek with delight. "There it is! That's where we live!” I give you a hug. You smile at the thought of the building and think of our place. Your thoughts go the bedroom. Then you remember. The bed. The sickness. That damn sickness stealing your happiness and life. Your face drops and I realize that the fun is over. You go numb and lifeless, and once again, your vibrant personality is claimed by it.
I turn you around and hold you tight. Your arms hang limply by the side of your body. I hold you tight for several minutes wanting to squeeze the sickness out of you forever. Slowly, I move back and I take your hands and lift them to the rope attached from the basket to the material above. You look at me blankly. I then lift you and sit you on the edge of the basket with your back to the open air, your legs dangling lifelessly in the basket. You stare at me with no expression. If you had the energy, you would let go and fall back. But you can't. You are trapped.
I grab the rope, and pull myself up and sit on the edge of the basket beside you. You look at me in your daze. Dead. Your face shows the death that is inside you, claiming your soul. You stare at me, wondering what will happen to you. Then you realize what is happening and a small smile appears at the edge of your mouth. I take one of your hands off the rope, hold it tight and smile at you. Together we lean back. Gravity. The tingling sensation rushes through your body as gravity pulls at you like and obsessed lover.
You glance over at me as your hair blows around your head wildly. Your smile grows and you hold my hand tight. Finally, you feel free, released from your sickness. You look up at the balloon as it rushes away from you. Your sickness has stayed on the balloon. You have been released from the endless suffering. You smile at me again and watch me as we fall. The wind is rushing past us. Blowing our clothes, trying to rip them off. Our cheeks are flapping in the wind and you laugh.
For the first time since you were a child you are truly happy. We rapidly drift down as the earth pulls at us. We say nothing. Just look at each other and smile. You think of how I have been there for you. To hold you when you need it. How I got inside your head and you never knew how I always figured out what you needed. The presence of the earth enters the edge of your sight as our journey is almost over. You turn your head up to see the small dot of the balloon above us. Then it comes. Ground. The air rushes through your lungs. You sit up, gasping for air. Your fingers are clenched into the sheets beside you. You turn your head frantically side to side, looking around the dim room, as you are sitting wondering where you are. The confusion last several seconds.
I sit up and give you a hug. I realize that you have had another horrid dreams and hold you tight. Gently, I pull you down back to the bed. You turn to me and sob softly. The sickness is not gone. You realize you may never be free of it. I pull you close to comfort you. You feel a little better safe in my arms. You hear me speak as I rub your back. “It's ok. Whatever it was didn't happen. It was just a dream. You are safe with me. Try to sleep a little more. Today is going to be a great day. Remember, we have been waiting for months. Finally, we will get to go on that balloon ride.”
