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Thehelicopter jerked out of its hover, snappingJessfrom her trance.Sheshook her head and touched her hand to her temple.Whatthe heck was that?Lastyear, she remembered researching some new space facts to share with her class, when she came across something called ‘TheOverviewEffect’—a term coined to describe something experienced by astronauts when they gazed at the earth from space: a transformative experience triggered by an extraordinary visual stimulus resulting in feelings of deep connection to the planet, awe, self-transcendence, and sometimes a shift in values.Shewondered if she’d just experienced a version of that.
‘Youall right?’ askedGabriel, touching her leg with concern.
Theireyes connected, and she felt the urge to kiss him again—just to say thank you for caring.Butremembering last time, she fought it.Insteadshe said, ‘I’mmore than alright.I’mamazing.’Shesmiled.Shewould have whooped if she didn’t think it would be too loud in their headphones.
Gabrielnarrowed his gaze and said, ‘Youwant to whoop, don’t you?’
‘Howdid you know?’Itwas like he’d read her mind
Heshrugged. ‘It’snatural, especially your first time.So…go ahead.Doit.’
‘Really?’
‘I’llwhoop with you.Ready?One…two…three…’
Andthey both let loose, her higher voice and his lower one, hooting together like children.ShesawJacquesshaking his head.BothGabrieland she dissolved into laughter at the end.Shewiped moisture from her eyes, as the helicopter swung around for another shot and he got back to work.
Toosoon, their forty-five minutes were up, and they began their return journey to the heliport.
‘Didyou get everything you wanted?’Jessasked.
‘Andmore,’ he said, his eyes dropping to her lips.Herstomach did an unexpected flip.
Thesun descended over the horizon and tungsten lights peppered the darkeningParisiancityscape.Theair lashing through the cabin turned chillier and, in a moment of daring, she pressed her right side closer to the man next to her, sucking in his warmth, enjoying the animal pleasure of his body connected to hers.Ina moment of further daring, she let her head rest on his shoulder.Aftersharing this experience withGabriel, she felt close to him in a way that transcended the physical.
‘Thankyou for this,’ she said into the mic again.
Shethreaded her fingers through his.Atfirst, she felt him pull away, but then he seemed to change his mind, letting her hold his hand.
Thisevening had been perfect.Andit wasn’t over yet.
6
Gabrielknewwhen a woman wanted to have sex with him.
Callit a sixth sense.Callit whatever.Rightnow,Jesswas sending out some pretty strong signals.Asthe taxi raced back toMontmartre, she sat to his left on the back seat, her leg pressing into his.Shestill held his hand, their fingers interlaced.Bothgazed out opposite windows, but the air was thick with tension.Hecaught himself more than once running his thumb up and down her knuckles.Hestopped himself each time.
Hehadn’t decided yet whether this would be a good idea or not.
SexforGabrielwas both complicated and uncomplicated at the same time.Uncomplicatedbecause he never allowed sex to mean anything more than the physical act.Away to gain release.Noemotions.Nolong-term relationships.Assoon as he felt that a partner wanted more than he could give, he’d break things off.
Ithad been six months since the last time he’d slept with someone.Hebarely remembered her name.Sara?Sylvie?Shehad been an art buyer from a corporate interiors company inLausanne.Hisagent had insisted that he take the woman to dinner because she was placing a big order for his work.Ithad been a pleasant night: dinner with interesting conversation,followed by a mutual, adult decision to take things further.Thenext morning, she left and he hadn’t heard from her since—just how he liked it.
Onthe other hand, sex was complicated for him.Everytime he got physical with a new woman and she saw the effects of war on his body, it meant she would want to have certain conversations—conversations that he might find hard to have, especially right now.
Anda couple of times, women had taken one look and walked away.Histhoughts returned to a hotel room inRome, after he completed an aerial advertising job.He’dmet her in the bar, a banker fromNewYork.Hecould still see the shocked expression on her face when he undressed for her.Sheleft fast.Somewomen couldn’t handle his baggage, he guessed.
Hedidn’t thinkJesswould do that.Atleast, he hoped she wouldn’t.
Gabrielsighed and flicked his eyes towards his right leg.Hadshe noticed anything?Herealised he was stroking her thumb again and stopped.
Whatto do?
Somethingwas holding him back.Hecouldn’t put his finger on it, but he got the feeling thatJessmight be dangerous to the fragile web of control he’d built around himself.He’dalready found himself acting rashly, inviting her on his ride toVersailles.
Ithad been worth it, though.Hehad just watched this woman bloom before his eyes, going from scared to intrigued to excited.Aride like that changed a person—he knew this first-hand.Afterhis recovery, he hadn’t wanted to touch his camera again.Thatsmall black box that had once meant so much to him, even obsessed him, now held too many complicated memories.Then, a photographer friend inAustraliahad invitedGabrielup in a helicopter to try aerial photography…and he was hooked.Insome ways, that trip had probably saved his life.Itdefinitelygave him a new perspective and something to live for.Whenhe was in the air, he felt like himself again.
Tonight, he had observedJess, in between taking his photos (which were awesome, by the way).Shehad gone into that helicopter one person and come out another.Heknew that her body was currently full of adrenaline, that life was coursing through her…because that’s how he’d felt the first time.Completelyalive after feeling dead.
