Free Fall- Kayla Engle

Kayla Engle

World Lit Honors

Bennett

4/23/14

Free Fall

I didn’t see myself doing something crazy. However I couldn’t help but stare at the man soaring above all our heads with his daughter at his side, each of them screaming. Looking at the ride, I felt my stomach painfully drop in a brick-like manner, like I knew it would when I finally pulled the rip cord from 18 stories high, that would release me to the ground then catch me, allowing me to soar through the trees. The thought made my mind reel in a pleasing frenzy.  

“You can’t do it, do not tease yourself with the idea” The whispering words caught me by surprise, a red rash appeared on my neck from the burning fog of these words that lingered there. Wisps of the dark smog snuck its way into my ears poisoning me and making me believe the harsh words it held. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the source of the words: the constant enemy I was faced with daily. It was a dark figure of myself, she had a very unbecoming frown on her lips, and her chest was collapsed as she shrunk in on herself. My stomach was tightening, head shaking, fingers shaking, moving, starting to rip at my nails.

        “Summer, I do not think I can do this”, the words slipped out quickly and I immediately was sorry because it hurts every inch of my heart when I let her down. The tan skin of Summers face moved into a smile, her eyes were squinting at me. At first I thought her name was silly, but in this moment I realized once again how accurate it was in representing the way she made everyone around her happy.  I wished I was her, a constant beacon of all that is good in this world.

        My eyes shifted to the dark figure on my right side, she was there still waiting to take over my consciousness. Suddenly there is a small speck of red that springs into her chest. Her wispy hands clutch her heart, the red lights making her collapse. There is a burst of an illuminating glow that washes over my skin, a fire scorches ever inch of my body. I look up and see a new figure, she stands large and tall, glowing a distinct red. Her red hair flows along the small of her back, and she stares me right in the eye with a smirk, flipping her long flowing hair over her shoulder and breaks into a strong sprint right into my chest.

        “Summer, we are going to do that right now, and am going to pull the cord. Lets go, lets run.” The words come out quickly, flowing out of my lips like a song, a song the red girl is writing inside me. Summer glows, lights up with life and I grip her hand to run into line. We run to each stop that we need to go to, so we can get the suit to fly. I feel the glowing redness pouring out every orifice, every pour of my skin, it bursts from inside my organs, it consumes me. As we waited in line I stand tall, and a sly grin was spread across my face, every muscle in my body relaxed.

“Okay ladies give me your tickets and lets get this show on the road!” We both gave this screeching, smiling little man our tickets and he led us out to the lift we would have to get on to, so we could get attached. We stood on the lift, listening to two young guys gave us instructions and then they asked us who would pull the cord. My mind did not question who would be doing this for a second, so the words came quickly.

“I am.” I spoke these words like they were the most important I had ever uttered. I stared into each of their brown eyes, feeling like the glow would burst me into pieces any minute.

Soon enough we were lifted, drug up 18 stories by our backs.

“Kat I am scared, Oh my god we are so high up! I want to scream, oh no how long are they going to hold us up here?” the words slipped from her lips in a ramble. The exact opposite thoughts were coming into my mind. I could see everything, the way the wind blew across my face, the tingling in my stomach, I was alive.

“Lets fly!!!” I shouted so loudly my ears rang in pain.

“3, 2, 1, Fly!” My eyes drifted to the little man, on his toes like he wanted to jump, his smile covered his entire face.

My head scanned the horizon, my lungs took in the clear air fully, strands of vibrant red hair brushed my cheek, my fingers on the handle released an amber shine. I look back at the handle a last time before falling, and a dark hand was there, as she reached for my glowing limb hers is burnt away. My arms trembled with strength as I ripped the handle, suddenly I felt the support fall from under me. I would have had to bet that my mom heard the ungodly yells coming from my mouth, as well as Summers. Our bodies flew back and forth, a gust of fresh, clean air soaked through my skin as another victory yelp escapes the opening on my lips. I am strong, alive, the other part of me is lost 18 stories higher gasping for life that will not come back. Now, for the first time I am free.