On the ledge

I started at the bottom of the tall building. Looking up. Ledge upon ledge. My eyes wide, my smile bright. I knew that building had everything I wanted. I knew if I climbed it, I would have everything I needed.

I stretched out my left arm to see how far I could reach. Ten bricks up, my fingers clung tight. My right arm swung around. My hand grabbed on beside the left.

I was alone there. I dangled with my toes barely off the ground, trying to decide what comes next. Do I still want to reach the top? I looked at the other buildings and the other people climbing. Some are fast, some are slow. Some are climbing down. Movement along every wall.

I decided to go for it. I can do it.

I repeated the left arm, right arm combo to move up the wall. A little tired, a little excited. I met people along the climb. They wanted to reach the top too.

When I saw her for the first time, I noticed her strength. Her wit. Not her beauty. That’s earned. We climbed side by side. Then she climbed to the left and to the right while I hung on. I caught my breath.

I could hear the hustle. Climbers finding their ledge.

She returned. Not a drop of sweat.

I stayed steady. Slow, but steady. She wiped the blond strands from her face. Smiled. Pepped me up. Encouraged a higher climb. A little faster. I obliged.

A couple of times my arms felt tired. My weight felt like a burden. Deep breaths. Did I need rest? Or to climb down? She cheered for me to keep going. And I did.

After sixty, seventy, maybe eighty bricks, I looked down. I had come a long way. I looked up and saw less building ahead and more building behind. Progress. Real progress.

I spotted a ledge engulfed by flowers and trees. A cat peeked out of the bushes. It felt like home.

I pulled myself up onto the ledge. Plucked a flower. Perfect behind my ear. Exhaled for a beat.

The floor shook. Tree branches broke. The sky went dark.

I backed onto the ledge. Where is she? Does she see me?

The ledges below retracted. The ledge above raised higher.

Screaming. Marching. I closed my eyes. Pushed. Who did that?

Heart racing, I grabbed the ledge. Two fingers on each hand held tight. Fingertips white in desperation.

I hear her whisper. She’s just above me. Top ledge. Arm stretched out. Knelt down.

Our hands clasped together. That strength I noticed in full force. No grunt. No strain.

Grateful. Trembling, tears ran down my cheek. Down hers too. She worried briefly.

A blink. Maybe two. Her eyes narrowed. Her smile faded. Not concern. Fear.

It was my turn. I approached. My arms stretched out. Her arms didn’t move.

I tried to speak. It was noise. Not words. She said nothing.

One step, then two steps. I waited for an embrace.

Shoved. Again. Off the ledge. The action so fast, so hard.

My bones ached. My skin pale. No breath left.

No impact. Suspended in air. Not floating, not landing.