Page 52 of Closer than Ever

Anna took a deep breath, hands firmly holding her rope. She was still nervous, but there was a steely resolve to get moving and get this over with. The fact that she’d nearly completed this course was a small miracle in and of itself. “Here goes.”

“See you on the other side.”

“And Hayley?”

“Yeah?”

Anna found her eyes. “Thanks.”

Hayley patted the small of Anna’s back. “Any time.”

Anna smiled and looked forward, pushing herself off the platform with a small run and jump. As she flew through the air, driving towards the end, she looked straight ahead. The rope whizzed above her. When the zip line hit the block to signal completion, she found the platform and turned around to see Hayley jumping up and punching the air. Anna waved, elated it was all over and proud of herself for accomplishing this. She still didn’t look down.

Hayley threw herself off the platform with abandon, shouting excitedly on her way across. Her smile, her enthusiasm, her calming support, she was magnificent. Anna couldn’t take her eyes off her flying friend. What was that moment on the platform? Were they nearly about to kiss? Did that just happen or was Anna delirious from the stress of this?

On the new platform Hayley jumped up and down and hugged her and kept saying how dope this was or something. “Are you okay now?” Hayley said.

“Yep, I’m fine. Glad it’s over.”

“You went so pale at that last section. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so terrified.”

“I may not have been.”

“It’s exhilarating though, right?” Hayley said. “Doing stuff like this.”

Anna looked back towards the last platform and the massive river she’d shot across, finally letting herself look down. She shuddered. “We survived. I’m happy with that.”

“It was fun.”

“One way to describe it.”

Hayley tilted her head, as if disappointed.

Anna touched Hayley’s arm, not wanting to see her look deflated in any way. “Yes, it was fun. I’ll give you that.”

Hayley beamed.

It was lovely to see.

Back at the start of the course, there was a real feeling of achievement and post-experience endorphins. A few kids lingered with their families, all rosy cheeks and smiling. The parents looked so proud. Anna took off her harness and threw on her hoody. It felt so good to be back on solid ground in comfortable clothing. Despite how difficult it had been, she was glad she’d completed the course. She felt ever so slightly more confident about herself. And she had Hayley to thank for that.

Hayley handed their stuff back to the instructor and had a brief conversation with him, just out of earshot. Hayley laughed at something he said and did that thing she did when she was talking to new people. The eyes, the charm, the complete focus, making you feel like you are the luckiest person in the world for getting to talk to her. Admiring Hayley from afar was a familiar feeling to Anna. There had been so many times when Anna would stare at Hayley across a room as if only Hayley existed. Ugh, she was doing it again.

Hayley walked back over to where Anna was, like an angel sent from heaven. She had a healthy glow and such an easy and light-hearted aura. The way she’d calmed Anna down when she was freaking out reminded her of that thing they shared that she’d always found so hard to articulate. They just clicked. Hayley was still that person who could breathe confidence into Anna, lift her up and make her feel motivated and like she could do anything. Anna swallowed, in awe of her friend and the effect she still had on her.

“Beer?” Hayley said.

“That’s an easy yes from me for the first time today.”

***

They found a table in the beer garden of a pub in the nearest village, a five-minute walk from the campsite. The sun was shining and it felt good to be alive. Zip lining through trees and fearing for your life had some upsides, apparently. Across the way was a small café and a local shop. The village was pretty with well-maintained grounds set among rolling hills. The gothic buildings were magical, lit up in the sunshine. Their pints of beer glistened in the sun.

Hayley was taking it all in as well. “Cute place.”

“It’s quite the tourist spot.”

“Shall we have dinner here?”

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