NYCM Prompts:
Genre: Romance | Location: A cable car | Object: An X-ray photograph
[Round 1: did not place]
Synopsis: When engineer Mathéo arrives to conduct non-destructive testing (NDT) on an outdated cableway, he never expected that the routine x-ray photographs would end up revealing something far more personal.
The grating metallic whine of the aerial pulleys filled Mathéo’s ears as the cable car rose through the valley. Sitting on the narrow utilitarian bench opposite, the space so tight that their knees touched, was a strangely familiar elderly woman. They had made polite introductions: Mathéo, carrying the equipment required to inspect this cableway, and Lis, toting two full shopping bags from the market town. She had lived in the upper reaches of this valley for seven decades and the recent talk of closing the cableway worried her.
“I’m just an engineer,” he tried to comfort her. “I only make the inspections, not the decisions.”
“Except your inspections inform the decisions.”
“But I only report as I find, I promise.”
Once the outdated cable car creaked into the uppermost way stop, Lis bid farewell and trudged off along a worn footpath with her shopping. Mathéo began preparations for inspecting the condition of the cables via portable x-ray. The process was straightforward but lengthy. It was early afternoon before he was finished.
Scuffed footfalls from behind caught his attention. Half-expecting Lis, Mathéo glanced over his shoulder, but could only make out a silhouette. Only when the figure drew closer did the shadows obscuring their features recede.
Mathéo’s heart leapt into his throat. “Tomas.”
If Tomas was as surprised as Mathéo, he didn’t show it. Instead, he held out an old-fashioned lunchbox. The metal kind with a little strap handle. “Oma sent this.” Catching Mathéo’s blank expression, he clarified: “Lis. My grandmother. I’m visiting with her.”
That explained why she had looked so familiar. “That’s kind of her.” He wanted to ask more but knew that privilege had been revoked. Ghosting someone after they said ‘I love you’ had that effect.
“Leave it when you go; I’ll collect it later.” Tomas was already turning to leave.
“Or you can stay!” Mathéo rushed out, his heart thudding. “That is, I’m about to look at the raw images. It’s just preliminary observations but there might be something to tell your grandma. She seemed unsettled earlier.”
He dithered a moment but finally nodded. “Thanks, Mat.”
Was the familiar shortening of his name deliberate, or just a slip of that talented tongue? It hadn’t taken long after he left for Mathéo to miss hearing it.
With the cable car being the only level place to sit, they squeezed onto one bench. The lush valley stretched out beneath them with the ragged outskirts of the market town far below.
“Oma can’t drive. The cableway is her only way of getting into town,” Tomas offered. “If it’s marked for closure…” He trailed off, gaze growing distant. “She’s scared of what the future might hold.”
Mathéo could empathise. Hadn’t he also baulked at what the future might hold? Except it hadn’t been over cableways. He slid a furtive glance towards Tomas. Freckles sprinkled across his nose and cheeks, charmed out by the early summer sun. Warm memories of his dusting butterfly kisses against each one swarmed Mathéo’s thoughts.
But his distracted silence drew Tomas’s focus. He abruptly turned his head, catching Mathéo off-guard. With only a scant distance between them, he fought against the temptation of Tomas’ slightly parted lips, reminding himself there was no longer an open invitation there.
A loud beep sounded from the laptop. Snatching a steadying breath, Mathéo took it into his lap, pulling up the digitised x-ray photographs of the cable rope.
Tomas leaned in closer to study the spectral grey tone image. “What does it show?”
His eyes fluttered at the subtle scent of Tomas’ cologne. Forgotten yet familiar. “What do you want it to show?”
Tom startled, hearing what wasn’t said, but swiftly recovered. “I’m not an engineer,” he countered. But his next words were precise. Carefully chosen, even. “What’s your assessment?”
His blood thundered in his ears as Mathéo enlarged a section of shadowy flecks. “This looks like general wear and tear.”
“Nothing stays new.” Tomas’ dark eyes were not on the screen. All his attention was on Mathéo.
“These? Micro stress fractures.” His mouth was dry. “Not unexpected given the environment.”
“There’s always unexpected pressures.”
Now Mathéo did something he had been unable to do all those months ago: steele his nerve. “And this,” he pointed to a jagged line revealed by the microanalysis of the x-ray, “is a break.” His eyes flicked up, meeting Tomas’ intense look. “I’ll need a second opinion, but it looks more severe than it is. It can be restored.”
The tension stretched between them…
… until Tomas sat back. “So the cableway is safe?”
“The cable—” Dazed, Mathéo struggled to keep up. “Uh, yes. This section, at least. I still need to inspect the rest.” The moment threatened to tumble down the steep valley slopes, but he made one last clumsy dive for it. “Tom, about us—”
Tomas exhaled sharply. “Hasn’t that system already been condemned?”
“I was wrong.”
“So are you also wrong about how safe this cable car is?”
“If I am, I’m still sitting in it with you.”
Tomas made to open his mouth then shut it again. He let loose a shaky laugh. “I’d have plunged a thousand feet with you any time, Mat.” He brushed his fingers against the back of Mathéo’s hand. “I still would. I meant what I said to you,” he drew in a deep breath, “but I deserve to be loved back.”
“You do.” It was that certainty which had originally spooked Mathéo. “It terrifies me. But seeing you here…” He gestured to their surroundings. “I think you might be my cableway and—” Noting the growing incredulity on Tomas’ face, he hastily got to the point. “Give me that second opinion. Can it be restored?”
Tomas studied him for a long moment. “I think, with a lot of unpaid overtime,” he sucked in a deep breath, “maybe it could.” His gaze dropped to the lunchbox sitting beside Mathéo as he began to smile. “Let’s start by introducing you properly to Oma.”
C.A. Raine 