Reader\'s Digest - 04.2020

(John Hannent) #1
forward and offered me the straps
that controlled the parachute, to let
me steer. It took me a couple of tries
to put my shaking hands through the
loops, and I was too weak to pull ef-
fectively. I could feel him pulling the
cords for me from above.
Other jumpers had described the

long, leisurely parachute descent af-
ter free fall as “relaxing.” But I couldn’t
relax—I was too aware of my weight in
the harness, my feet dangling, the fa-
miliar landmarks far below me. There
was the train bridge. There was the
beach. There was the highway lead-
ing home. Barry spun us around, and

I STARED AT THE SAND, TRYING TO FIND A
SILVER LINING TO COVER UP THE BOTTOMLESS
CHASM OF FEAR I CARRIED INSIDE ME.

112 april 2020


Reader’s Digest

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