Eva got an offer on a Tuesday afternoon from the line producer at Kowalski production. She had to read it before she understood what it was saying.
The job was to do a stunt in a high-rise building in Kuala Lumpur that was supposed to look like the Shanghai skyline. She would have to fall from thirty-two stories up without any wires, which would be the stunt fall ever done in a big studio movie. The paycheck was huge with a lot of zeros that would catch anyones attention, Eva, who did not really need the money anymore. When she saw the offer her heart started beating
She did not tell her boyfriend Kevin about it away. She thought about it for two days going over all the details in her head like she always did. She thought about the wind at that height how long it would take for the airbag to open and where the line was between doing a great stunt and getting hurt badly. Only after she had thought about everything did she leave the offer on the kitchen counter where Kevin could see it.
Kevin saw the offer that evening when he was walking by the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand. When he read what it said he stopped moving.
"Eva " he said.
"I have not accepted the job yet " she said.
"Thirty-two stories " Kevin said, his voice tight and flat like he was trying to stay calm. "That is not a stunt that's like jumping out of the sky."
"That is my job, Kevin " Eva said, trying to sound calm. "I have done stunts from twelve stories up and twenty stories up. This is the next step and I have been working towards this my whole life."
"There are some things you should not do Eva " Kevin said. "Thirty-two stories with no wire that's not just a higher number it is crazy. I read about a guy who did a stunt from twenty-eight stories up. He broke both his legs even though he landed perfectly. You are talking about going four stories higher than anyone has ever gone and lived."
"I know about that " Eva said. "I talked to the stuntman who did the twenty-eight story jump. His equipment was not set up right the wind was blowing hard and the airbag did not open at the right time. That will not happen to me."
"You can not promise that " Kevin said.
"No one can promise that " Eva said. "You know that. My job is always dangerous you knew that when we started dating."
Kevin did not say anything for a while he just stood there looking out the window his hands in his pockets his shoulders stiff. He was looking for a way to convince Eva not to do the stunt.
"I do not want to be when you do the stunt " he said finally his voice barely above a whisper. "I have watched you do stunts before in Kuala Lumpur, New York, Prague over the world. I have learned to deal with the fear because I trust you.. This stunt, thirty-two stories I just can not do it. I do not want to stand and watch you fall it is too much for me."
Eva felt a pang in her chest she walked over to Kevin. Put her arms around him. "I am not asking you to be happy about this " she said. "I just want to make my decision."
Kevin put his hands on hers trying to calm down. "That does not make it any easier for me " he said.
"I know it is not easy " Eva said. ". It is what I have to do. You told me you would never get used to this I did not expect you to. I just asked you to stay with me."
Kevin turned around and Eva could see the fear in his eyes it was real and raw. "What if I can not do it Eva?" he said. "What if my heart can not take it this time?"
Eva looked at him she thought about what it took out of him every time she did a stunt, not the money or the thrill but the human cost of loving someone who did this kind of job.
"You do not have to watch " she said. "You can wait until it is over and I will send you the video. You do not have to put yourself through that it is not brave it is just hurting yourself. I do not need that from you."
Kevin thought about it for a moment like he had never thought about having that choice. "You are okay with that?" he said. "Me not being there?"
"I prefer it " Eva said. "I would rather you were not worried sick in front of a lot of people. There is no rule that says love means watching every risk in person. It is just trusting that I will be okay and being there when I am done."
Kevin took a breath his shoulders relaxed a little. "I still do not like this " he said.
"I know " Eva said.
"I am still going to read every safety report whether you like it or not " Kevin said.
"I would worry if you did not " Eva said and they both laughed a little it was the laugh they had shared before when they were talking about their fears and worries.
Kevin took another breath and nodded, like he was giving Eva permission to do the stunt and forgiving himself at the same time. "Take the job " he said, his voice full of pain and pride. "Break the record call me first before anyone else knows. Call me first."
" you first " Eva promised.
She kissed him feeling a sense of peace loving him and letting him be brave in his way, not hers.
Three weeks later in Kuala Lumpur Eva did the stunt she fell thirty-two stories in under twelve seconds she landed perfectly four inches off from where she was supposed to land and set a new record. Soon as she landed she called Kevin, who was eight thousand miles away he picked up the phone before it even rang once relief was all, over his voice before Eva could even say a word.