`` it 's too late , '' she says , and in that second when i 'm not holding on tightly enough she wrenches away from me and hurtles onto the road just as two vans converge , about to pass each other , and all i see is the shine of metal and something white suddenly launched into the air , and for a second i feel an overwhelming sense of joy , and i think she 's done it , she 's flying , and time seems to stop with her glittering in the air like a beautiful bird .