A Safe Distance by Jennie Kermode
The wilderness offered Joey and Alex a rugged backdrop for their getaway, but the true drama unfolding that evening was playing out far more intimately within their own relationship.
As they drove deep into the British Columbia woods, the radio provided a soundtrack to their journey: a grim news report detailing a string of bank robberies committed by a masked man and woman. For Joey, the unfolding crime seemed to offer a strangely romantic narrative, a dramatic flourish in the quiet solitude of the forest.
Alex, meanwhile, was focused on something much closer and more real—a book resting in her lap. She offered him only a puzzled glance, a silent signal that the notion of finding romance in criminal activity was utterly misplaced. Though they had shared eight years together, there was an undeniable chasm between their perspectives; Alex simply had no patience for such nonsense.
The tension hung lightly in the air, a subtle friction between their desires and their reality. They were mid-thirties, navigating the complexities of long-term partnership, yet the external world seemed to highlight the differences in how they perceived life and love.
After setting up camp and hiking to a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the valley, the mood shifted again. Standing amidst the stunning scenery, Joey abruptly stopped the easy banter. He dropped to one knee, producing a ring that caught the fading light.
For a moment, the idyllic setting seemed to culminate in a grand gesture. But as viewers had seen enough of the unfolding narrative—and Alex certainly saw enough of their complex dynamic—it became clear that this romantic flourish was merely a mistake. The beautiful vista and the dramatic moment were about to reveal a truth far more complicated than any fictional crime story.
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