Flat-Out Love - Park Jessica - Страница 38
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Finn is God
What??? Oh, no! Do not panic. Have you forgotten that I am a superhero?
Julie Seagle
I had forgotten! Feel totally safe now. OK, you fly under the elevator and lift me up to safety. Ready? Go!
Finn is God
Unfortunately my flying powers were deactivated because I abused my superhero status. Apologies. I have other powers, though, that will get you through this.
Julie Seagle
Give it your best shot. Convince me that I’m not a million feet in the air.
“Julie?” Seth called. “You still breathing with me? And…. inhale!”
“Yup!” she called out.
“Good! You keep breathing, and I will distract you. Um… I’ll sing!” There was silence for a moment. “I don’t know what to sing. OK, how about this?” Seth launched into an impressively loud and off-key rendition of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” “I don’t know why I chose that. It’s just what came to mind.”
“It’s lovely. Keep going,” Julie hollered.
Finn is God
You can’t pretend you are not up high, because you are.
Julie Seagle
These are delightful powers you have. Thank you so much. I feel a million times better.
Finn is God
Accept that you’re up high and embrace it. Take control. It’s like when I go skydiving. I don’t actually love heights. It scares the hell out of me to be in that plane, looking down at the ground. But I jump through that fear and turn it into euphoria.
Julie Seagle
I would never in a million years go skydiving.
Finn is God
What if I took you?
Julie Seagle
I’d still be jumping out of a plane alone, just like I’m alone in this stupid elevator.
“Swiiiiiinglooooow,” Seth’s singing echoed through the building. “Oh! The fire department is here. Hold on. Let me see what they say.”
Finn is God
You wouldn’t be alone. I’d take you tandem, so you’d be strapped to me. We’d jump together.
Julie Seagle
How would that work?
Finn is God
You’d be in front of me, your back pressed into my chest.
Julie Seagle
That part doesn’t sound so awful.
Crap. Did she just write that? There was no undo or delete button. How totally embarrassing.
Finn is God
No. It doesn’t sound so awful, does it?
Julie Seagle
So then tell me more.
Finn is God
OK. Pretend we’re going right now. Ready?
Julie Seagle
Ready.
Finn is God
We’re in the plane, and it’s loud and cold. You see duct tape over parts of the interior of the plane and wonder if jumping is the worst idea you’ve ever had, but I tell you you’ll be fine. We both have on the full skydiving suits, helmets, goggles, chutes. The suit is tight, and it gives you the illusion of being safe, secure. You’re full of mixed emotions. Pride, anxiety, exuberance, terror.
Julie Seagle
Nausea?
Finn is God
That’s not an emotion! But, yes, nausea.
“Miss? Boston Fire Department here. We’ll have you out in about thirty minutes. You hangin’ in there?” a gruff voice asked her.
“Take your time,” Julie called out, as she continued staring at the small screen in her hands.
“Julie, did you hear that?” Seth asked. “Only thirty minutes. I know it sounds like forever, but it’ll go by fast. Is my singing helping? It should at least be making you laugh.”
“Knock it off with the singing!” one of the firemen ordered. “Miss, even though there will be a bit of banging going on, you’re perfectly safe. We’ll get you out just fine.”
“No rush,” Julie muttered.
Julie Seagle
Then what?
Finn is God
Your mind is racing. Did you remember to turn off the oven at home? Your car needs an oil change. You’re out of shampoo. Why do washing machines eat socks? Do they taste good? Should you try eating socks? You wonder if you should back out, if this was a mistake. You didn’t tell anyone that you were jumping today, and now what if you die? You worry that you’ll forget what to do, that you won’t remember when to pull the chute. I show you the altimeter. The plane is only halfway up to where we need to be, and it already feels so high. But you’re not in any danger.
A loud thud sounded and the elevator shook. Then metallic noises echoed throughout the chamber. Julie squeezed her eyes shut and couldn’t stop the whimpering sound she made.
Julie Seagle
Finn, I’m scared. The elevator is shaking.
Finn is God
I know you are, but I’ve got you. You’re not in the elevator, remember? You’re with me. I stand you up and try to push your body away from mine, reminding you that you are tightly strapped to me, and that I won’t let anything happen. It’s my job to control our jump and my job to pull the chute if you don’t. You’re safe. Tell me that you trust me.
Julie Seagle
I trust you.
Finn is God
We’re high enough now, and one of the instructors opens the door, sending a powerful rush of air into the cabin. Your heart nearly stops when I start to walk you to the edge. As much as you’re terrified, you’re also starting to feel the rush, the thrill you get from being on the brink.
The noise from above continued, but Julie barely noticed. The only thing she could pay attention to, the only thing she cared about right now, was what Finn was writing her.
Finn is God
We’re at 15,000 feet now, and when you look down at the ground, you immediately try to step away from the door. You want to bail on this. I back you up, and we let someone else jump first. I put my arms around your waist and pull you in, holding you, letting you know I’m with you. I tell you that you can do this, that you’re strong enough and brave enough. I tell you that you can do anything. So you nod and agree to jump.
We move to the edge of the plane again and pause. You cross your arms over your chest and lean your head back into me like I told you. I start to rock us back and forth, getting us ready to jump. And then we go.
Julie’s pounding heart and the fact that she was sweating no longer had anything to do with the elevator situation.
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