High Dive

Toes peeking over the edge
of a puddled concrete slab.
Wide eyes peering out
at the crystalline water far below.

Apprehension lurches
in your chest.

Close your eyes,
take a breath,
one step back,

and one leap forward.

The split second of floating
before gravity takes its hold
makes you wonder why
you ever hesitated.

But you hit the water wrong
and what was up is west.

Panic lurches
in your chest.

Upside down and backward,
four limbs thrashing
without pattern
or control.

Reaching out to find the surface
you don’t find air.

Instead you find a hand
that steadies you and shows you
how upside down and backward
gives the surface
a better view.

Slowing shaking breaths,
clinging to the tiled wall,
you reflect on how
you survived the fall.

It wasn’t clean,
nor was it pretty,
but while searching for help,
you discovered clarity.

You discovered strength
you had never seen.
A blur of complications
became pristine.

As you pull yourself out
of the water that trapped you,
you see it in a way
that somehow looks brand new.

The platform that you leaped off
now looks so small
as if you should barely have felt the fall
at all.

And you stride on past
with your chin to the sky.
Maybe the next jump
will make you fly.

You climb up the steps
of the next highest tower
feeling something akin
to power.

However you land
you will do your best.

Excitement lurches
in your chest.

Close your eyes,
take a breath,
one step back,

and one leap forward.