Falling

Lelia Rill
September 4, 2009
Filed under Archives

From up here the ground doesn’t look so far away, I thought to myself. From the ground it looked pretty high, but now it is not so scary. I’ve tried this before but at a much lower height. Some people ask me why I put myself through this again and again, but all I can think is, “falling is part of the climb.” I look down again hoping he’ll appear. When he doesn’t, I know it will be the same as every other time. Now too long ago I was staring at this same spot hoping that another someone would show up, but he didn’t. As I balance myself on the branch below me, I realize that this climb has taken much longer than I would have thought. Now I am stationary, and I feel like I can’t move, but it’s just the fear setting in. I look down one last time before I think the branch is cracking, and all of the sudden I’m falling. I’m falling and at the same time I’m praying he’ll show up. A fall from this height could shatter me. As I’m falling, I miss it. He comes from nowhere, from my subconscious or somewhere farther. It doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is that he is there. I don’t dare scream, no one will hear me anyway. I breathe as I brace for the impact of the ground, but I don’t hit the ground. I open my eyes, and he is there, placing me safely on my feet. He smiles, and I am calm. Then it’s over.