Have you ever gone skydiving before?

I can tell you it's a thrill. A feeling like no other. A feeling of being restricted from any form of limitations you might have back on the ground. That moment of bliss and adrenaline and just pure satisfaction where you first jump off that plane or cliffside. That feeling of falling, drifting through the sky, proving to nature that despite not being born with wings. We are still able to experience flying.

Those seconds of free-falling is the moment I prove God wrong. Prove that I can go against my nature and see the world like God does. Fall through its domain and laugh at it. Shouting my hubris and spitting at it with my pride.

This time was like no other. My friends had surprised me with a trip up a mountain where we were going to skydive from.

I can't really recall the mountain's name, but it had an edge that led to a fall down a ravine.

The mountain had makeshift guard rails set up to make sure no one would fall down the ravine.

When we arrived, it was early morning and we were alone. My friends had insisted on us being alone so we could freely dive down the mountain without worrying about others.

My friends had decided to jump from the first peak they found, but I wanted to jump from the highest point on the mountain.

I thought if I can’t fall for long, then why fall at all?

So I marched on up. Seeking the thrill once more. Seeking the thrill of defying god once more.

Marching up, I ignored the cold winds biting me, I ignored the low clouds that obscured my vision. I had to reach the top

As I marched, I swore I heard a noise. I first thought it was the wind. However, eventually, it grew louder and it became more clear. It was a whistle. A faint whistle. A melody that slowly grew louder and louder. I looked for where it could come from, but it seemed as it came from everywhere.

I twisted and turned to look for the source of the song.

I shouted out. Asking who it was. Asking if someone needed help. Or maybe if it was my friends trying to frighten me. With the bright sunlight and faint clouds blocking my vision and with the whistle causing me to lose my direction. I walk to where I believe is the top before I see something.

A silhouette. Some 20 meters in front of me, there stands a silhouette of a person wearing what I could only describe as a coat and a hat.

I shout out to them.

"Is anyone there?"

No response.

"Are you okay?"

No response.

I start to walk towards the silhouette. Believing they might be in trouble. As I walk closer, the silhouette only moves further away. I start to pick up the pace, and then it happened.

I feel the ground under me disappear as I fall.

I fall down the mountain through the clouds and down the ravine.

When my mind finally catches up to me I feel that thrill hit my body. I spread my arm out and shouted in joy.

"Your earth is not to restrict me! For once again, shall I rule these skies!" I shout.

Blinded by my pride, I don't see whats in front of me, or what I lack behind me.

As I go to launch my parachute, I realize there is nothing there. I reach for my back, and I feel nothing.

I start to panic. My heart beats loudly as I realize I'm plummeting down from the skies I had felt to be my own.

That thrill I had felt so many times before was now lost, and in its place stood a shallow hole slowly filled up with fear and terror.

"No, wait." I plead to no one.

I scream and shout as I realize how long this fall will be, and how it will be my hell.

In my panic, I hear it again. It begins like a hum before getting louder and louder. For instead of the sound of wind crashing in my ears, I now hear that whistle from before. That terrible melody.

I hear it all around, it won't let me be alone. As it extends my fall more and more, making the seconds to hours and the hours to years. I fall and fall with my fear only growing. I don't stop falling. My heart races as I see the ground come ever closer  

What I once thought was freedom has trapped me to a certain death.

I beg, plead for something to save me but all there is to answer is the whistling melody  and the ground that comes ever closer, and the top that grows so much further away.

Have you ever gone skydiving?

It's a terror like no other. For I am falling, and I the ground is growing ever closer.