Free

You're falling, but regret nothing. What goes through your head?

Your eyes are closed. It seems like they always were- it's so natural. Your eyes have been closed for the last few seconds, but you know now that your eyes have been clouded for much, much longer. Recently, it's become harder and harder to keep them closed, seeing as how you're gaining speed.

You're upside-down; first anomaly. You don't really know if you're upside-down. You just assume. However, you open your eyes, and realize that you're spinning like that weird rocket simulator you saw on that TV show about space. Funny... You were pretty high up in the atmosphere when you jumped. About 20,000 feet, actually.

The wind makes your scalp feel as if each hair were being pulled out and regrowing one by one, only to be yanked out again; but the power of the air rushing past you is already making your senses melt away, so it doesn't really matter. You try to even yourself out and eventually succeed. You've decided that face-first is the best way to smash into the ground. You'll get to see it- maybe you'll even see the last second before your body flattens like a pancake. A chuckle passes through your lips. The only reason you're thinking about pancakes is because of the delicious ones you had this morning. The person who served you was cute. You wish you could have had a kiss or two before you decided to end it. The sub you had wasn't as significant, though... There was a hair in it, and you saw the guy making it hock a loogie between the lettuce and the cheese.

The ground has gotten dangerously close in the few seconds that you had been thinking, and you try to reflect on all the important, memory-making events in your life. None come to mind. And then you think about your dog.

Your old golden retriever was the only thing keeping you from leaving this world. The way he looked at you with such happiness when you came home from a day of odd jobs made you truly happy. He would hop up (despite his lack of a frontal left leg) and run-limp to you as best he could. You would wrap your arms around his neck, dropping your mud-encrusted work clothes on the shag carpeting and hug him as tight as you could, knowing each day might be your last. Unfortunately, your dog couldn't be part of your plans. He had to be taken to the vet a few days ago so that he could be put down, rather than put out on the street. As you drove and made the turn into the parking lot, you caught his gaze from the backseat. Bad move.

He stared at you, into your heart, as if he were fully aware of what you were going to do. He didn't care that he was going to die- he only wanted to be with you when you jumped. He was very calm and accepting of the situation. You left after saying a teary goodbye, and didn't wait up for the vet to finish the job.

A tear escapes your eyes; ironic, considering even the air whipping around your face couldn't squeeze the water out. You realize that now, after everything, a dog was your only thing to live for, and you had put him down for your own selfish desire to die. You clear the thought from your mind immediately; you promised you would feel no regret in the descent.

Poor, homeless, no family. The exciting idea of skydiving seemed like the perfect ending to a sappy story. It's a shame that they'll have to clean the parachute. You close your eyes again; your brain no longer has time to panic.

Mom, Dad... I'm coming home.

Boom.

Author's Note

I was trying to make it short, so is it too vague? Do I need more detail for the background of the character? Any feedback helps!

Reviews

[Lina Grey]

It's a good story. It's a little vague, but I personally think that helps the story. It seems like it's supposed to be a thought process, and no one actually goes through and explains everything in their thoughts. The fact that you used second person made me realize how different it is- I've written in second person, but never really read any work. I now understand what others mean about it, but I think you did a really good job with it. It kept my attention very well. The only thing I would've done differently is the last word, 'boom.' I know it's to indicate crashing into the ground, but 'boom' just doesn't seem appropriate. Perhaps you could replace it with a word better fitting to the context. Other than that, it's a great story. Thank you.