"Great. That sounds fun." Julie carefully slumped to the floor and tucked her knees into her chest."You OK in there?"
"No. I'm not OK. I'm freaking out! I don't want to be in here. Really. Not at all. I'm going to die any minute, I can just tell."
"Um, do you want to do some deep-breathing exercises? Why don't you visualize floating things? Feathers and clouds and bubbles. That might help."
"No, I don't want to do any frickin' deep-breathing exercises! I want the goddamn fire department to get me out."
"Julie, listen to me. I'll count to five and you inhale through your nose along with me. Then exhale for five counts through your mouth. Ready? One, two - "Shut. Up. Seth was no help whatsoever. Fine, he had called the fire department, but otherwise he was not helping her to relax one bit. Her phone sounded, and she realized that it was still in her hand, her fingers now white from gripping it so tightly.
Julie-I should be around later, yes. Where you off to tonight?-Finn
Oh, thank God. Finn! She checked Facebook's chat from her phone, and he was signed on.
Julie Seagle
Am flipping stuck in an elevator. Alone. Miserable. Help is on the way supposedly, but I am not enjoying this experience. Starting to seriously panic. Sweating, shakes, visions of brutal death.
Finn is God
What??? Oh, no! Do not panic. Have you forgotten that I am a superhero?
Julie Seagle
I had forgotten! Feel totally safe now. OK, you fly under the elevator and lift me up to safety. Ready? Go!
Finn is God
Unfortunately my flying powers were deactivated because I abused my superhero status. Apologies. I have other powers, though, that will get you through this.
Julie Seagle
Give it your best shot. Convince me that I'm not a million feet in the air.
"Julie?" Seth called. "You still breathing with me? And.... inhale!"
"Yup!" she called out."Good! You keep breathing, and I will distract you. Um... I'll sing!" There was silence for a moment. "I don't know what to sing. OK, how about this?" Seth launched into an impressively loud and off-key rendition of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." "I don't know why I chose that. It's just what came to mind."
"It's lovely. Keep going," Julie hollered.
Finn is God
You can't pretend you are not up high, because you are.
Julie Seagle
These are delightful powers you have. Thank you so much. I feel a million times better.
Finn is God
Accept that you're up high and embrace it. Take control. It's like when I go skydiving. I don't actually love heights. It scares the hell out of me to be in that plane, looking down at the ground. But I jump through that fear and turn it into euphoria.
Julie Seagle
I would never in a million years go skydiving.
Finn is God
What if I took you?
Julie Seagle
I'd still be jumping out of a plane alone, just like I'm alone in this stupid elevator.
"Swiiiiiing looooow," Seth's singing echoed through the building. "Oh! The fire department is here. Hold on. Let me see what they say."
Finn is God
You wouldn't be alone. I'd take you tandem, so you'd be strapped to me. We'd jump together.
Julie Seagle
How would that work?
Finn is God
You'd be in front of me, your back pressed into my chest.
Julie Seagle
That part doesn't sound so awful.
Crap. Did she just write that? There was no undo or delete button. How totally embarrassing.
Finn is God
No. It doesn't sound so awful, does it?
Julie Seagle
So then tell me more.
Finn is God
OK. Pretend we're going right now. Ready?
Julie Seagle
Ready.
Finn is God
We're in the plane, and it's loud and cold. You see duct tape over parts of the interior of the plane and wonder if jumping is the worst idea you've ever had, but I tell you you'll be fine. We both have on the full skydiving suits, helmets, goggles, chutes. The suit is tight, and it gives you the illusion of being safe, secure. You're full of mixed emotions. Pride, anxiety, exuberance, terror.
Julie Seagle