The girl I was starting to feel close to morphed into someone I barely recognized as the cameras began to roll.
I took a step back, unsure of why I was even still there as Zoey said a few words and then climbed the wall as if she’d been doing it her entire life. A small part of me was proud of her, but an unsettled feeling had set in that I couldn’t quite shake.
Still, I couldn’t make myself leave.
She climbed to the top and rang the bell before turning to celebrate and begin her descent. Her foot slipped and she lost her balance with the wall. My stomach lurched as she dangled there helplessly with no idea what to do.
Without hesitating, I sprang into action. In under a minute I was connected and scaling the wall to reach her.
“Just relax. I’m coming up to get you,” I told her in a confident but soothing voice.
It didn’t take long for me to reach her. I’d could have climbed that wall blindfolded I’d done it so many times. But when I got to her, I saw the tears and terror in her eyes. My instinct was to grab her and climb us both down, but I was still aware of the cameras on us, maybe even more so after that teaser.
“Monte, help,” she cried.
“Zoey, you’ve got this. Remember what we practiced. What’s the first step?”
Her horrified eyes nearly broke me.
“I can’t. Help!”
“You can do this.”
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Step one, Zoey?”
“St-stay calm,” she managed to stutter.
“That’s right. Stay calm. Take a deep breath for me. It’ll calm your nerves and help with the nausea.”
She did by inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth.
“Okay. What’s next?”
“What?”
“Step two. What’s step two?”
“Uh, find the wall,” she said more confidently.
“Good girl. You’ve got this.”
She reached for the wall and managed to grab hold of one of the climbing holds.
“That’s perfect. Now pull yourself to the wall and tell me step three.”
“Get upright.”
“Show me.”
It took her a bit, and I could tell she was a little frustrated having to work so hard at it, but she got it, and I couldn’t have been prouder of her.
“Now what?” she asked more confidently.
“Start your descent. I’m right here if you need me and I’ll talk to you.”
“The whole room is sort of spinning right now,” she whispered.
