"...Jessie says that it's an incredible, intensely spiritual ceremony. And after that, you stand in your bare feet and feel the wind. You spread out your arms like wings and feel like you're flying until the bungee cord snaps you back up. She says that being surrounded by the tribe who have just promised to trust and accept you with everything they have...well, she says it just fills you with peace and love from everyone and everything."
"Jessie's done this ceremony too?" he asked, desperately trying to think of a way to distract her.
"Yes...but she was born into the tribe, even if she never really lived with them. But for us--it's really a once in a lifetime experience. We're so lucky that they now consider us as belonging-"
"Katie maybe you should go alone." She was startled into not speaking, but had a peculiar look on her face. "I mean, it sounds more like a you thing than a me thing anyway."
Her voice was tight, "I guess so. I just...I just wanted to share it--" He tried to interrupt, but she pushed on, "No. It's not a big deal. I'll go alone. I'll be back in the next few days to pick up my stuff."
"What? Katie, no."
"Brian..." she took a deep breath to steady her voice. "I kept hoping and thinking that one day you'd be ready. But now I see. This is an opportunity of a lifetime...and you aren't ready to take a risk. You may never be. Just like you may never be ready to take a risk on us, on our relationship." She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
"Kate."
"It's okay. Maybe it is better this way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Katie opened her eyes as the last sounds of chanting died out. "Shaman Ritzan...I don't know how to describe it...that was just incredible."
"Mashton, my child. Now you should greet your friend, in trust and love."
"My friend?" She looked up and saw Brian.
Walking over, she asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to join you...if it's not too late."
"It isn't. Oh Brian, it could never be too late, I'd always give you another chance. But you don't have to jump. Just being here, joining in this ceremony...it means so much to me."
"It's alright. I want to."
"But I know you're concerned about the safety and--"
"Kate, shh. I'm ready. To take a risk."
"To take a risk?"
"In more ways than one." Her face lit up with pure joy. Brian smiled and said, "We'll talk about it after, okay?"
She nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shaman Ritzan finished attaching the cord to Brian. "Ready, my child?"
Shakily, he answered, "Yes".
Shaman Ritzan smiled knowingly, "Remember, the fear is not the important thing. The important thing is learning to trust, in spite of the fear, as the tribe has learned to trust you. Now go, my child."
Brian positioned himself on the cliff's edge...