Chapter 21 - MATEO AND RUBY RETURNED UPSTAIRSOne year after the fall, Mateo and Ruby returned to the balcony.
Both children hesitated at the French doors.
Autumn wind moved through the gardens.
The afternoon light was cold and clear.
Mateo wore a mustard-yellow jacket instead of the torn T-shirt.
Ruby wore trousers and black sneakers.
No ruffled dress.
No Mary Jane shoes.
They had chosen their clothing.
Elena stood behind Mateo.
Isabella stood behind Ruby.
No one pushed them forward.
“You don’t have to go out,” Elena said.
Mateo looked at Ruby.
She held out her hand.
He took it.
They stepped onto the tiles.
The silver support reflected sunlight.
Ruby approached the transparent safety barrier.
Her breathing changed.
Mateo remained beside her.
“Don’t look down,” he said automatically.
Ruby shook her head.
“I want to.”
She looked at the stone terrace.
The distance remained twenty-three feet.
It no longer contained her body.
“I was there,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“You held me.”
“Yes.”
“Were you scared?”
“A lot.”
“So was I.”
They stood without pretending courage erased fear.
A white pigeon crossed the sky.
Ruby flinched.
Then watched it continue beyond the estate.
No feather.
May you like
No trap.
Just a bird.
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