Kola was always motionless at the sight of heights. Standing on a veranda two floors up made his palms dank and his knees tremble. His friends always teased him about it, but deep down in his mind, he hated how fear controlled him on different occasions.
One evening, as he was scrolling through videos online, he stumbled across a clip of people skydiving. Their screams were not of terror; nevertheless, they were of joy, freedom, and release. Something stirred up inside him and he asked himself. “If I can jump out of a plane, then no balcony or no tower and no height will ever own me again.” he soliloquizes.
Kola made his decision known to his friends as they sat in a gathering on a meet-up day like that. He said it out loud and firmly, “ Next month, I am going to jump.” His heart flapped even as he said it. “What are you jumping my guy?” Owenu asked, looking lost. “ Guys, I have decided and I will be skydiving.” The table became silent. As cups paused mid-air, then laughter erupted. “ What, wait, you? The same Kola who nearly lost consciousness on the pedestrian bridge?” Ali teased, slapping the table. “Ah, somebody is planning to die young !” Joked Owenu, though his eyes sparkled with curiosity. But Kola’s expression didn't change a bit. He was steady and ready as never before. “ I am serious. I am tired of this fear controlling me. If I can jump out of a plane, I believe that I can do anything.” The laughter faded and his friends exchanged glances, realizing he meant every word and the truth behind it.
Gently, Aisha leaned forward and spoke softly, “If you are really doing this to this guy then I am coming too. I have always wanted to try new things and this one is a perfect match.” Ali raised his eyebrows looking sideways. “Ehn? You people want to drag me into madness?” He giggled, but after a moment, he shrugged it off. “ Okay, Fine. If Kola can face his fears, then what excuse do I have ?” Cynthia sighed dramatically, “So it is a group suicide thing now.. Isn't it?” They all burst into laughter again, but underneath it was shared excitement at the thrill of a challenge forthcoming. By the end of the night, their teasing had turned into planning and preparation. “ I have made my enquiries and after checking the centers, reviews, comparing prices, and most importantly, looking at safety records. I finally settled on one just outside the city, a licensed drop zone with a professional instructor,” Kola suggested. “That is cool, send every detail to us on WhatsApp so we can follow up,” Owenu replied.
For the first time, Kola felt lighter. His fear of heights still lingered within him, but he wasn't alone this time. His friends’ reaction of being shocked, jokes, and eventual support of him had transformed his private battle into a shared adventure, and deep inside, he knew that the sky would no longer be just a place of fear but of freedom.
As days went by, they enrolled for booking and registration and also partook in tandem skydive before the main day. As the group boarded the plane in excitement and the aircraft started running on its runway, Kola felt his heart hammer against his chest as it lifted into the sky, climbing higher and higher. Kola glanced out the window, viewing the fields as they shrank into green patches. As they all stood up inside the plane, Kola’s stomach felt like it was sinking in water as his hands were sweaty, while his heartbeat was thundering in his chest, and then he changed his concentration and looked at others who stood beside him, not knowing what he was feeling, so he smiled.
The aircraft door slid open and a rush of cold air blasted in, as it carried with the vastness of the sky. They moved toward the door after the instructor gave an affirmative nod. With a leap, they were out. At first, the chaotic air rushed against his face, while his body tumbled and spun downward. His scream was swallowed instantly by the wind. But soon, he found his balance, and he spread his arms wide like wings. The fear began to melt into exhilaration as he was not falling down anymore but soaring. The world beneath him stretched endlessly, and the patchwork fields, winding rivers, and distant hills glowed in the sun. He dived towards his friends and they held hands together forming a circular shape in the sky enjoying the moment.
When the parachute finally opened and the rush of free fall gave a smooth gliding descent, everything changed. The noise of the wind became softened, and the panic in him dissolved into awe. The earth below was no longer a place he feared falling into but a breathtaking painting spread out just for him. His chest, which was once tight with dread, now felt light and expanded almost limitless. The Fears in him had not vanished completely but it no longer owned him. What he felt was freedom, triumph, and a deep pride that brought tears to his eyes unbelievably. The sky, once terrifying, had become his victory.
His parachute guided him down in a smooth arch, and his feet brushed the grass before he stumbled forward staggering and caught himself with a shaky laugh. He collapsed onto his knees, breathless as his eyes were widely opened with disbelief. “He had done it, he had jumped, flown, and landed,” he ruminated. The fear had led him up into the sky but courage had brought him down safely back to the ground. His friends ran towards him, they carried him up and threw him up in a celebratory way. “We have done it” they screamed.