It's Up To Me

I unscrew the expanders on the sides of the air conditioner in my friend's window, then the screw holding it to the window frame. Katie and my friend are distracted, so they don't see my hand shake, but tell you what, I am a little nervous.

This heavy piece of equipment is just hanging out in space over the sidewalk below, and once I lift the sash, it could be free to fall, crashing to earth and killing whomever below. 

But that's not going to happen, I tell myself, white knuckle tight gripping the back of it as I say, "Okay, can you lift the window open now?"