Under the veil of shining lights and above the stale wood that has lasted through memories, we run breathlessly as children. Exhilarating freedom seems to be in the air we intake with every breath, pumping through our souls like nicotine. Every leap and climb and swing is effortless, as if gravity itself has lifted just for us-just for tonight. The world is our playground; nothing can stop us now.

The sphere of bars is our last mountain to climb and the tallest we will ever master. I watch him smile excitedly and take it on with a run while I follow at his heels and grab the bars uncertainly. I feel myself start to shake with every step, my legs becoming unsupportive and my frame giving way. I forgot to tell him-I’m afraid of heights. I look up pleadingly at what I expect to be an arrogant expression, but instead am greeted with a hand and a grin. His palm is warm and surprisingly strong grasping mine. He gives me the strength to finish my efforts, and when I finally sit at the top, we laugh at our success. But I soon realize, however, that he’s climbing back down, and of course he is, we’re finished now, aren’t we? I want to follow, but I frown as I stare at the spindly bars. No, I can’t make it to the ground on my own.

He pauses halfway down and gives me a curious stare. “Are you coming?”

I bite my lip nervously and grip the bars under me until my knuckles are white. I shake my head. “I’m scared.”

He lets out a quick laugh, looking now more amused. “Don’t worry.” I watch curiously as he begins to make his way back up. With every reach I see him grow older, his childish body becoming taller, his eyes deepening with knowledge and experience, his movements more certain and powerful than before, until suddenly he’s leaning over me with a smile on his lips.

I realize then, that I am no longer a child either. My legs have grown longer and wider, and my chest is filled like those girls I used to envy in commercials. Memories creep back, weighing me down from the effortless joy I had previously experienced. I feel myself sag in disappointment and uncertainty, but before I lose myself entirely, I feel an arm wrap around my back. I almost forgot that he was there, looming over me confidently. My breath stills and he leans forward, placing his cheek against mine and his lips against my ear. His words are like a melody in the air. “I’ve got you.”

I don’t know how I made it to the ground, but I smile shamelessly as we walk away, his hand encasing mine securely. Though my legs are still shaking and much too unstable, and though I’m constantly fearing my inevitable stumble and plummet to the ground, I know that this is still worth everything. After all, he said it, didn’t he?

I’ve got you.

I have nothing to be afraid of, anymore.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

This short story was thought of while listening to Frou Frou’s songs ‘Hear Me Out’ and, of course, ‘The Dumbing Down of Love.’ Neither of the songs have much of anything to do with the story, though. O.o

And funnily enough, I didn’t mean for this story to be symbolic at all when I started it, but I guess it just turned out that way on its own…Oh well.