The Fifth Date

Chapter 26

 Floating.

        

         It felt as if my feet weren’t on the ground and each time I take another step, my whole world shakes and my brain stirs with the idea that I would die if I don’t get out of here. A gush of cold wind brushed against my face, paling me with fear and undying anxiety.  I took another step with my wobbly knees and my blood was running cold as the platform shook. I gripped the steel bars on my sides with fervent wish of avoiding death on its own face. My mouth had run dry and the cold wind biting my flesh did no good to the pounding of my head and ears.

        “Tell me again why I’m here,” I mumbled to myself on clear intent of not letting you hear but you did,anyway.

        “You said you wanted to fly, didn’t you? This is as close as it’s gonna get.” You whispered in my ear, rather too closely, I felt a shiver down my spine when your breath brushed against my nape. Yes, you did ask me what my wildest dream was and I have stupidly told you about an absurd desire of mine to fly. I know it was way too impossible but what I meant was to break free from the dull routine of my life. Get outside. Live. Be happy. Trust. Laugh. That was it. Not fly 700 ft from the ground with a huge possibility of crashing and dying.

        “That was figurative, you idiot!” I couldn’t stop my nerves from getting jammed with all these shaking of the platform and cold wind juggling my head.

        I heard you chuckle behind me as I stopped moving, still crushing my palms against the steel bars. “Let’s just go back. I can’t do this.”

        “Oh no no no. We waited in line for two hours, July. You should have told me that when we were still back down there.”

        I turned my heels towards you, careful not to lose my balance and trip, roll further to the end, fall 700 ft into the ground, and eventually die. “I didn’t know it would be this scary.” I half-screamed, half-whispered.

        “A lot of things in life are scary, Juls.” You looked straight into my eyes as the wind tousled your hair. “Losing your favorite pair of socks is scary. Going to the dentist is scary. Finding out your neighbor’s dog has rabies and you were petting it a while ago is scary. Getting lost in a city is scary. Sleeping not knowing if you’ll ever wake up the next day is scary. Heck, waking up every morning not knowing what lies ahead is scary, as well.”

        I continuously gaped at you as your hands landed on my shoulders, “We just have to go through it all. It is scary, yes, but our life wouldn’t move forward if we let these things scare us forever. We will always be rooted on this spot.” You quirked a brow as you looked down to our feet, smirking.

        “Do you want to stay on this spot 700 ft above the ground forever, July?” You asked teasingly.

        I gulped and heaved a sigh, “I’m scared I might die. What if the cord breaks? What if the hooks open? What if—“

        “Your boyfriend can go with you.”