Sebastian
“Sebastian, you are a really great guy—”
“Wow, thanks.”
“Really. Really, you are—”
“That’s seriously sweet, Vi.”
“Like the best, honestly—”
“Okay, now my ego is getting big.”
“But I sincerely think we are all wrong for each other.” Her words finally cut off as the instructor snaps a belt onto her harness, tugging until it’s tight. Her eyes widen and she looks over at me, panic is very clear on her face.
We’re currently getting suited up for one of the most fun activities you can do.
Paragliding.
Given Violet’s aversion to the rock climbing, and then the amazing result when she
tried, my newest goal of this vacation; experience as many adventures with Violet as
possible.
“Seriously, I can’t do this.” Her lips purse as she lets out another shaky breath.
When the instructors are all finished, I turn to her and grab her shoulders, making sure she’s looking into my eyes before I say, “Vi, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
She looks at me for a moment, and I see the stress this is putting on her. A small part of me feels bad, like maybe I’m pushing her too hard, too far.
But then an image of her climbing that rock wall and how happy and accomplished she was afterward flashes through my mind, and I can’t stop myself from wanting to push her to do this.
“Okay,” her answer is shaky and she waves her hands around, probably air-drying nervous sweat.
I’ve already got my helmet and harness on, ready to fly over this mountain. Years ago I did this and got myself certified and thankfully, they still honored it. I was also thankful that I initially went into the building by myself to get us signed up and set because they definitely knew who I was and wanted autographs and pictures. After I gave them that, I pleading that they would keep it on the down-low.
But as I strap Violet into her gear and she continues to take deep, gulping breaths I
sort of wish she knew the truth. Surely if she did, she wouldn’t be as worried, she would
know that I truly knew what I was doing and how to do that.
“Sebastian,” Violet’s soft tone brings my attention back to her face.
“Yeah, Vi?”
“If I pass out, or die, or—” She shakes her hands and head, “Just promise that you’ll
find Amy, she’s my roommate and don’t, under any circumstances, meet my mother.
Promise?”
My first instinct is to of course ask: “Why not?”
“Just promise! Okay! She would probably ask if I died from too many orgasms or
something, alright?” Her admission bursts out of her and her face goes blank with shock.
The laughter cannot be held back. “Well,” I clear my throat. “We wouldn’t want that,
would we?” With a wink, I yank on her harness to check it.
“Wait, you didn’t promise me.”
My hands cradle her head, I look into her eyes which are a shockingly beautiful shade
of green and say, “There’s no need. I swear to you, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her eyes soften and her head starts to nod, but I don’t think she consciously knows
she’s doing it. Before she knows it, Dave, the guy who is helping us get off the mountain
we’re standing on top of has us strapped together, Violet starts running down the hill and
when the parachute is in a good position, I join the run and the chute lifts us into the air.
The mountains high above Aspen start soaring beneath us and the air hits our
exposed cheeks and I’m almost able to enjoy it until Violet starts screaming so violently
that you’d swear she was being murdered.
“You okay?” I ask loudly, it’s surprising how little you have to yell when you’re flying
through the air.
“I can’t do this!”
“Yes, you can, Violet! You already are!”
“Oh, I can’t, I can’t—” I feel more than hear her gasp and right when I’m about to ask if she’s okay, she yells, “Holy mother! We’re flying!”
I throw my head back, laughing hard. “You didn’t have your eyes open, did you?”
“No!”
Then, she starts screaming again. This time, the joy exuding from her is infectious
and with another whoop from her, I join in. Flying through the sky, the mountains are
glowing with golden and orange leaves, the fall air is fresh, and the only thing that makes
this whole day perfect, is the woman I’m strapped too.
Flying through the mountains with that adrenaline that feels like home is comforting,
doing it with Violet is a first for me. I don’t normally do too many stunts that use two
people. I prefer not to rely on or have to be relied on by any one person. With her, I didn’t
hesitate. I didn’t question myself or wonder why I wanted to do this with her, or do
anything with her. Doing it without her wouldn’t feel right, now.
That thought should freak me out but instead I welcome them.
It doesn’t last as long as we would have liked and we’re landing what feels like five
minutes later. The adrenaline is still pumping through my veins, at least, that’s what I will
say later on when anyone who asks; why, the second you were unstrapped from Violet
did you spin her around and lay a big, fat kiss on her lips?
And I will promptly tell them to mind their fucking business.
Violet
Flying through the sky like that was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It was how I
imagined being weightless would feel like, suspended in the air with only the wind to
guide and carry us over the majestic mountains, seeing animals and every tree, leaf or
rock glide below us.
I’ve lived in the area for most of my life, I’ve looked at the mountains my entire life,
knowing when I’m in the city that all I have to do is look to them to find West. It’s
ingrained in me. I never once gave it much thought how lucky I was to live where I did.
This day has changed all of that for me.
I have a brand new appreciation for the mountains. I have a new appreciation for
everything I have and do. And for the first time in a long, long time, I have an itch. An
inspiration, if you will, to do something about it.
When our feet finally find the ground again, I have a moment of sadness, of loss at
the feeling that held me up in the air. Once we’re unclipped from the parachute, I feel the
pull of Sebastian’s fingers on my upper arm and I spin around, ready to tell him thank
you, to tell him how amazing this was and how amazing he was for pushing me to do
this.
But I don’t get the chance.
His lips collide with mine and mine— despite their serious lack of use in the last few
years— respond immediately to his. His hands come up to cup both sides of my face
and my hands latch onto his forearms, using the touch to ground me to this moment
when once again I feel like I could float off into the air, that weightless feeling almost
rushing back to this moment.
Our lips grapple with each other, his tongue wipes at the seam of my lips and I open
for him, letting him in.
For the first time in months, hell, years, I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.