Page 75 of Chasing Sunrise

“It’s holding,” Beau announced.

Cheers came from below.

Thank you, God.

He’d cheated death again. He was the luckiest guy in the world.

Disaster averted, he relaxed. Pain shrieked from his waist, crotch, and neck from the harness and ropes. His shoulder and cheek were in no better shape.

If he hadn’t already decided, his body was telling him he didn’t need this extreme lifestyle anymore.

“Kasey.” Harper’s words were unusually quiet. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “Fine.”

“I’m suiting up to come help you down,” Beau said.

“No.” He analyzed the wall in front of him. “I’m continuing up. I don’t want to repeat this climb tomorrow.”

“The climb isn’t important. You are,” Harper insisted.

“Kasey, we need to check your injuries.” Beau sounded concerned. “Your face is bleeding.”

“I’m fine.” He got a hold of the rock, found footholds, and started up again. He talked while he carefully ascended. “Harper, I’m leaving on the first flight out I can get.”

“No, we tape tomorrow.”

“You’ll have to do it without me. This is my last episode. Ever.”

“Kasey, you’re upset,” she insisted.

“I’m not upset. I’ve been closer to death before. My heart isn’t in it anymore.” The more energy he exerted, the quicker his breath came. “I want to thank you for giving me such an amazing job and life for four years. Doing the show has been incredible. You’ll have hundreds of people lining up to replace me.”

“No one can replace you.” She huffed. “No one has your drive, your humor, your likeability. You can’t quit. You’ll be in breach of your contract if you don’t finish the season.”

“If you want to hold me in breach, take it up with my lawyer. Be forewarned, though. He wanted me to sue you over the Star Breeze newsreel.”

When she didn’t respond, he said, “Let’s call it even.”

“The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

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