2020-04-01_Readers_Digest

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