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“Are you mad at me?”
“Yes.”
“I never would have known,” he says deadpan. “You’ve reached the top.”
“What?” I look down so I can read his lips to understand what he is saying. It’s windier up here and it’s making it difficult to hear.
I see how far up we are. “Oh my God, Lincoln!” I suddenly feel dizzy and sick all at the same time and snap my head back around.
“Stay facing forward. Focus on your hands.”
“This is where I die, isn’t it? Can you tell them I want lilies at my funeral, please? And if my sister cries at my funeral, it will be crocodile tears. That girl will be glad I am gone. And please find someone to look after Pom-pom. He’s my baby.” I think I might start crying.
“You are not dying. Now listen to me, Violet,” Lincoln coos softly from behind me. “You are going to pull yourself up onto the pole. But there is only a foot width to stand on, which means, when I pull myself up, I need you to stand still. You hear me?”
“I can’t do this,” I wail.
“You can. You run an entire department of people, organize mergers, negotiate. You are a force to be reckoned with. You know strength beyond measure and you are a strong and confident woman, Violet. I know you can do this. You can do anything when you put your mind to it. I believe in you. Now, in your own time, gently pull yourself up. Imagine you are only two feet off the ground. You are safe. You are equipped and you are courageous. I am here for you.”
I repeat his words. “I am confident. I am a strong businesswoman. I can do this. I can do anything.”
“You can do this.” Lincoln feels very close behind me.
“I can do this.”
“You are confident.”
“I am confident.”
‘You are sexy.”
“I am sexy?” Really?
“You are incredible.”
“I am incredible.”
“You are perfect.”
“I am perfect.” I pull myself up. God, that is hard with only a tiny space to maneuver on. I keep my head tilted back, only looking at my feet through one opened eye, determined to only look at my footing placement and not look down.
“You are enough.”
‘I am enough.”
“You love your body.”
“I love my body.” I find that difficult to say.
“You let go of negative self-talk.”
“I let go of negative self-talk.” I teeter on top of the pole.
“You choose to stop apologizing for being you.”
“I choose to stop apologizing for being me.”
“You are beautiful.” Lincoln suddenly appears by my side and wraps his powerful arms around my waist, and we wobble slightly.
