The wind was rushing around Martin like a tornado and no matter how many times he closed his eyes, counted then opened them again, he was still here. Gritting his teeth, he looked towards the open door of the plane and the handful of people waiting to jump out. Martin was sit in his seat, trying to stop his knees knocking together with the fear.
‘This is great team building!’ someone screamed.
Martin shook his head, he could think of far better and safer things.
‘Go! Go! Go!’ Came the call and people started jumping.
‘I can’t, can’t,’ Martin mumbled.
Someone grabbed and yanked him upwards, shouting his name at the same time. He fought against them and the forceful wind helped and made him stumble backwards.
‘I can’t!’ he yelled.
‘Of course you can! It’s easy!’ A female voice shouted back.
‘I’m going to die, Amy!’ Martin responded.
‘No you’re not!’ Amy answered.
‘Go! Come on!’ a louder voice cut in.
Martin shook his head and tried to pin himself against the stomach of the plane, but the large bag strapped to his back would not let him. Amy’s iron grip did not let his wrist go and Martin was dragged behind.
‘You have to go separate.’
‘Him first then,’ Amy said and pushed Martin.
He screamed, wind hit his face and tore his words away. He windmilled his arms and squeezed his eyes shut. He felt himself spinning and just tumbling out of the sky. Someone grab him, helping him to stop the spin, but not the huge free fall. He opened his eyes, saw the world growing below him and freaked out.
Amy opened his parachute for him then somehow flung herself away enough to open her own chute.
Martin felt himself being tugged backwards and starting to slow down. He opened his eyes and looked up. The parachute hung above him a large red and white stripy bug against the true blue sky. Then he looked down and saw the beauty of the patch work countryside below.
The fear lifted and he left it behind as he embraced the sense of being alive.
The Story Files 