Just the way YOU ARE

He was everything Rebecca dreamed of but she couldn’t tell him her secret

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REBECCA - It was all going so well until I saw the lift. My heart pounded, my head whirled, and before I knew it, I was fleeing to the ladies. Locked in a cubicle, I rang my best friend and colleague, Clare.

‘You’ve got to help me!’ I said. ‘Daniel’s

gone and arranged a surprise dinner up The Shard.’

Clare laughed. ‘It isn’t funny. The restaurant’s on the

32nd floor!’ ‘The lifts are huge, quick and have a

video of a moving ceiling,’ Clare said. ‘You’ll love it.’

‘You know I won’t. Help me! This is my future we’re talking about here.’

‘You like him that much, huh? Well, what about the stairs?’

‘All 32 flights? Besides, they’re not for the public. Emergencies only.’

‘Well, you’re just going to have to face your fears,’ Clare said. ‘Or tell Daniel the truth.’

‘Not likely.’ Clare had known me since

I was five and was all too familiar with my irrational phobia of lifts. Although she didn’t claim to understand, she’d always hike up the stairs with me, regardless of how many flights were involved. Although I doubted even Clare would trudge up 32 floors of the London skyscraper, even if it were possible.

‘How can I explain on our third date that the sight of a lift sends my blood pressure soaring?’ I asked Clare.

‘You just have to,’ she replied. ‘If he really likes you, he’ll like you warts and all.’

‘But he’s so cute! I don’t want him to think I’m a total weirdo.’

‘Look,’ Clare said, taking charge. ‘Go back to Daniel. I’ll ring you in a minute and give