The Jump.
I never liked pool jumps, don’t get me wrong pools are great but pool jumping is not my thing. I never understood how one could willingly jump from such a height. It’s Madness! But I can’t think of that right now, I have to concentrate on the present.
Now comes my time, I have to prove to them that I’m not scared when in fact I’m crumbling apart inside, all the things that could go wrong will! I’m going to slip on the ladder, I’m going to jump in a weird way and belly flop and everyone is going to think I’m weird! No, I can’t think like that right now. I stood up slowly and started walking, my feet splashing in the warm chlorine water. The sun is shining bright, people are joyfully screaming and shouting, but not me. It was like a great evil was haunting me from within, making sure I was scared and aware of its presence.
As I walked on I finally reached the ladder, its bright smooth reflection, bathed in the rays of the sun, contrasted my inner turmoil. As I ascended towards its peak, I could hear the shouts and cheers of my friends, encouraging me to jump.
“You got this man!”
“Go to the highest jump!”
I felt my limbs and body resisting, not letting me climb further, like a captured animal I struggled up the ladder until I reached the top.
As my head peaked over the ladder I got hit by the blinding rays of the sun. Unable to see and struggling to move I climbed onto the jumping board. It seemed to stretch for miles on end with nothing but eternal abyss beneath it. It felt like time stopped, I could hear the muffled shouts of my friends as I forced myself To walk across the board. I could hear my feet stomping on the rigid surface as I gripped the railings, holding on like my life was on the line.
I suddenly froze in place, grounded like an ancient statue, almost as if I put the gaze of Medusa herself. They say when you’re about to die your life replays in front of you. I think this was my moment. As I stood there, overlooking the joyful couples and the families below me I couldn’t help but feel the gnawing feeling inside me.
As the sun baked my back I took one more step and jumped.