One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates proximity communication. This system includes a circuit containing a bootstrap transistor and a pass-gate transistor, where the drain of the bootstrap transistor is coupled to the gate of the pass-gate transistor. Note that a first coupling capacitance exists between the source of the pass-gate transistor and the drain of the bootstrap transistor and a second coupling capacitance exists between the drain of the pass-gate transistor and the drain of the bootstrap transistor. During operation, the gate and the source of the bootstrap transistor are coupled to a high voltage, thereby causing an intermediate voltage at the drain of the bootstrap transistor. When the source of the pass-gate transistor transitions to a high voltage, the first coupling capacitance and the second coupling capacitance boost the voltage at the gate of the pass-gate transistor higher than the high voltage, thereby enabling the high voltage at the source of the pass-gate transistor to pass to the drain of the pass-gate transistor.