Page 31 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“That’s it,” I encouraged her. “You’re doing great. Just a little further.”

As she neared the middle - where I’d nearly fallen - the bridge creaked ominously. Vanessa froze, her hand at her throat.

“Zarnak,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t think I can-”

“Yes, you can,” I said firmly. “Look at me, Vanessa. Don’t look down. Just focus on my voice.”

Her gaze locked with mine, and slowly, carefully, she began moving again.

“That’s it,” I murmured. “You’re almost there.”

When she finally reached me, I had to fight the overwhelming urge to pull her into my arms. Instead, I offered her my hand, helping her onto solid ground.

“You did it,” I said, unable to keep the pride from my voice.

Vanessa let out a shaky laugh. “We did it. Together.”

As we caught our breath, I marveled at her courage. Despite her fear, she’d faced the challenge head-on. In that moment, I realized just how much she’d come to mean to me.

“The orchids aren’t far now,” I said reluctantly, though every fiber of my being wanted to stay in this moment with her.

Vanessa nodded, a determined glint in her eye. “Lead the way, partner.”

VANESSA

The petals of the luminous orchids cast an ethereal radiance across the jungle floor. I stood transfixed, unable to tear my eyes from their beauty.

“Extraordinary, aren’t they?” Zarnak said quietly.

I nodded, still mesmerized. “They’re incredible. I’ve never seen anything like them.”

Zarnak stepped closer, his arm brushing mine as he reached out to gently touch one of the delicate blooms. “The pollen of these orchids has remarkable properties. It can be used to create powerful medicines, or even as a potent hallucinogen.”

I listened intently as he explained, fascinated not just by the information, but by the passion in his words. The soft light from the orchids played across his features, softening the angles of his face.

“Vanessa? What’s wrong?” Zarnak asked, concern coloring his tone.

I blinked, realizing I’d been caught. “Oh! Yes, sorry. I was just... thinking about how to collect the pollen without damaging the flowers.”

Zarnak nodded approvingly. “Good thinking. We’ll need to be very careful. Here, I’ll show you.”

He moved behind me, his chest nearly touching my back as he reached around to guide my hands. I tried to focus on his instructions, but his proximity was incredibly distracting. The warmth of his breath tickled my ear as he spoke.

“Gently cup your hands around the flower, like this,” he murmured, his large hands enveloping mine. “Now, give it the slightest tap... perfect.”

A small cloud of glowing pollen drifted into our cupped hands. I grinned, proud of our success, but also thrilling at the feeling of working so closely with Zarnak.

“Now, we’ll transfer it to the collection vial,” he said, producing a small glass tube from his pack.

As we worked to secure the pollen, our movements became synchronized, as if we’d been partners for years instead of days. It felt natural, comfortable... right.

Suddenly, my elbow bumped against Zarnak’s arm, nearly causing me to fumble the vial. Zarnak’s quick reflexes saved it, his hand closing over mine to steady it.

“Careful,” he said softly, his eyes meeting mine. We stood frozen, connected by more than just our joined hands on the vial.

The moment passed, and we finished securing the sample. Zarnak smiled warmly at me.

“Well done,” he said. “We make an excellent team.”

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