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GABE
The day after I’d spoken with Don, I summoned Fiona to my office after hours to inform her of my decision. I had little doubt as to how she’d react. But, one way or another she would be giving the presentation. It was merely a matter of getting her to confront her fears and deal with them. She arrived at my office a little after five o’clock, and after a quick elevator ride up, we made our way out to the roof and the helipad on top of the building.
The late afternoon sun warmed my face as I made my way towards the ledge, my loafers clopping along the concrete surface. Fiona trailed behind me, her heels making a similar, albeit softer, sound. After a few more seconds, I’d gone as far as I could. As I stopped, I placed one foot flat on the ledge, did a half-turn towards Fiona and noticed she was still several feet away from me.
“Tell me what you see, Fiona.”
She shrugged and looked past me. “I don’t know.”
“Sure you do.” I replied with a nod. Making a sweeping gesture with my arm, I continued. “Come over here and take a look around.”
As soon as I finished speaking, she shook her head. “I’d rather not, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid of heights.”
I shook my head and exhaled. “Is there anything you aren’t afraid of, Fiona?”
As I spoke, Fiona continued to avoid my gaze. She dragged her fingertips down the length of her forearm until they came upon her charm bracelet. She spun the gemstones in succession for a few seconds before speaking once again.
“Is that why you asked me up here, Gabe? To see what I’m afraid of, or…?”
“No,” I replied, cutting her off. “Not at all. Now, quit deflecting my question. Look. Tell me what you see.”
Fiona grimaced at me for a moment or two. Fire-orange streaks from the setting sun reflected in her irises as she looked up at me.
“Go on,” I said, nodding with my chin. “Tell me.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say. You mean the cars in the lot, or the park nearby, or the highway in the distance?”
I shook my head and waved her off. “If you want to make this a literal exercise, Fiona, sure. Those things are fine.”
“You’re confusing me. Tell me what you want me to see.”
“Listen to yourself, Fiona. How can I, or anyone else, tell you what to see in life?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” I said. “Tell you what. I’ll tell you what I see. That will help you understand the point I’m trying to make.”
“But I don’t look at the world the same way you do, Gabe. Things don’t work out for me the way they do for you. I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”
“Bullshit.”
“Why is that bullshit? It’s true.”
I paused for a moment or two. “Is it really true, Fiona?”
I think she could sense from the tone in my voice I had a challenge ready for her. Even so, she dipped her toe in the water, prodding me to prove my point.
“Yes, Gabe. It is true.”
“Okay, Fiona,” I began. Clapping my hands together in front of my body, I began to rub them back and forth in an easy rhythm. “Granted, you have a view of the world I don’t share. But just because that’s true, it doesn’t mean I’m not right.”
“What?” she replied. “You’re not making any sense.”
I shook my head. “It’s simple, Fiona. You don’t see the good, only the bad.”
“Well, that’s because…” she stammered, before she stopped herself mid-sentence.
I didn’t bother to probe her attempt at self-pity. Instead, I ignored it and motioned for her to approach. “Come here.”
“No,” she said, as she shook her head. “I already told you. I’m afraid of heights.”
I extended my hand towards her. “You’re safe with me. I promise.”
I kept my hand still, firm and extended towards her. She alternated glances between my fingers and my eyes for several seconds.
“It’s okay, Fiona. I would never hurt you.”
After another moment or two, Fiona shuffled a series of tiny steps and as she wrapped her fingers around mine, she slipped a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. But as I took hold of her, I accidentally grabbed onto of her charm bracelet and stretched it tight against her wrist.
“Gabe! My bracelet!” Fiona gasped. She balled her fingers into a fist and threatened to break her arm free of my grasp. “Please be careful.”
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I just don’t want anything to happen to it.”
