But he keeps rising as I stumble toward him, climbing over seats, trying to pull him down.
“Take my hand!” He laughs.
“How are you even doing that—”
Haru turns upside down, reaching down for me.
I step on a chair and grab him. The second we lock eyes, a strange sensation moves through me as gravity vanishes, lifting me into the air. The next thing I know, we’re floating through a purple galaxy. I don’t know how any of this is happening. Maybe Haru doesn’t know, either. All that matters is we’re together, moving through our own universe. But the scene doesn’t last too long as gravity eventually lowers us again.
Haru catches me as we slowly drift down to our seats. He crosses one leg over the other and looks at me. I squeeze his hand as the lights come back on and the universe vanishes.
Seven
The sun is gone when we leave the museum. I don’t realizehow much time has passed until we’re outside again. There are so many places I want to show him. But there’s only enough time for one last surprise before the night ends. As the train drops us off at the next stop, I take Haru by the hand, leading him down the sidewalk.
“Close your eyes for a second,” I say.
“Is this a surprise?”
“Just keep them closed until we’re inside.”
Willis Tower stands 108 stories tall, with an observation deck that overlooks all of Chicago. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. It’s sort of a touristy spot, but you can’t get these views anywhere else. I press the elevator button and tell Haru he can open his eyes.
A television screen turns on above the doors. As we start to ascend, an informational video plays, narrated by a woman’s voice.
“Welcome to the Skydeck,” the voice says. “You’re on your way to the top of the tallest building in the western hemisphere. Along the way, watch as we pass by some of the tallest buildings, monuments, and structures in the world…” Images appear on screen, showing us our elevation in real time.
At the sixth floor, we pass the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt. At forty-nine, we reach the height of the Space Needle in Seattle. Ninety floors takes us to the height of the Eiffel Tower. As the number rises, my stomach clenches a little. I forgot how high this thing goes without stopping. Haru turns his head, squeezing my hand. As we pass a hundred floors, something strange happens. The television glitches, scrambling with gray-and-white static as the sound ends.
Then the screen goes black.
Haru and I look at each other, confused.
“I’m sure it’s just a technical issue,” I say.
The doors open on the hundred and third floor. I breathe a sigh of relief, making Haru chuckle a little. We step off the elevator and head through the exhibit hall. Usually, the observatory is crowded. But for some reason, there’s only a few people here tonight, making the place seem larger than I remember. There’s piano music playing in the background, growing louder as we get closer to the observation room. Maybe it’s just me, but the song is strangely familiar. Has Jasmine played this for me before? I close my eyes for a second, trying to recognize the melody. I can almost see her fingers floating above the keys. But the music fades away before I can finally grasp it.
When I open my eyes, Haru isn’t there beside me.
“Haru?”
Where did he go this time? I wander into the observation room in search of him. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the entire floor, giving us panoramic views of Chicago. I’ve never been here at night before. The lights of the city shine like goldenrods, stretching toward the skyline.
And then I see him.
Haru stands on the other side of the room, hands deep in his pockets, staring out at the city. His silhouette is dark against the window. I make my way toward him, wondering what he’s looking at.
Haru points at the buildings below. “You can see the Bean from here.”
“Really?” I press my face against the glass.
He laughs. “I’m kidding.”
“Oh… very funny.”
Haru smiles, looking out the window again. This side of the observatory overlooks the marina, boats lining the water like little toys. “You should see the views we have in Tokyo. I could have shown you them last summer.” Before I have a chance to respond, he turns abruptly. “What’s over there?”
I follow his gaze. “Oh, that’s the Skydeck. It’s what I wanted to show you.” It’s an enclosed balcony, made entirely of glass, including the floor. “There’s usually a long line, but looks like no one’s there.”
