Take The Plunge

• Kayla Robertson, Grade 12
• Short Story
• 2017

My head was pounding. I could hear my heat beat like a war drum. The icy wind was cool on my exposed skin. The jagged rock was hard beneath my bare feet. I took a step closer, the wind blew in my hair. I could the salt in the air. I took a deep breath. The scent of nature engulfed me. I could hear the birds on the nearby mountains squawking and the people behind me shouting. They wanted me to jump. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. All the sounds around me became quiet. All I could hear was the sound of my breath. Peering over the edge, I saw the 100 foot drop below. Bright blue water rippled below, crashing onto the side of the cliff and bubbling white foam. I forced my feet to move forward until my toes were hanging over the edge. I was scared. I could die. I must be stupid to be doing this. I turned around so I faced the people behind me. I looked from face to face, all of them eager to see me jump. I finally landed on my best friends face. She looked terrified and gave me a small smile. I grinned from ear to ear, spread out my arms and let myself fall. I was flying. For a split second I forgot about the world around me and everything fell into slow-motion. I crashed into the waves, the water pulling me under. I let myself keep falling, enjoying how the water felt around me making me weightless. With the need for air I kicked towards the surface. I broke it and flipped me hair back. I looked up at the faces on the cliff, too small to identify them. Smiling, I threw one fist in the air and shouted in victory, in joy. I couldn't believe I did it. I took the plunge.