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Rightnow, though, she had other things to worry about—like the fact that she was about to jump out of a plane.
Shehad chosen this company because it promised views ofStonehengefrom the air as she plummeted to the ground.Ifshe was going to perish, at least she’d perish near one of her country’s most popular historical attractions.
Thecorrespondence repeated many times that she couldn’t be late, as they had to perform an induction and training before the jump and had multiple full flights scheduled throughout the day.Throughher windshield, she spied the plane resting on the airfield nearby.Toher, it looked a little flimsy.Apuddle jumper.Herbreathing sped up, and her palms turned sweaty.Grippingthe steering wheel, she observed other people getting out of their cars and heading to the self-check-in area, and vaguely thought she should probably join them.Sheblinked hard.
Comeon,Jess, you can do this.
Thedeep voice in her head spoke with anAmericanaccent.
Shechecked her watch and saw that she had to report to reception in minutes for check-in, so she counted to three and bolted out of the car, taking only a small bag containing her phone and water bottle.Shecrossed the grass to join the queue of other jumpers at the reception tent.Infront of her stood a father and son, who couldn’t be more than sixteen years old.Ifhe can jump,Ican jump, she thought.Remember, you’re doing it for the children.
Whenchoosing a charity, she’d decided to raise money for one that helped child amputees in poorer countries to get the prostheses they needed, but couldn’t afford.Heroriginal goal was quickly exceeded when an anonymous donor gave generously.Shenoticed that the amount was exactly how much she’d paid to rent the flat inParis.
Atlast count, she had raised almost £2,000 and hopefully more would come in today as she did the deed.
Toosoon, she was sitting in a room watching a video about what to expect from the day.Sheglanced at the faces of theother thirty or so fellow crazy people as an enthusiasticAussieassured them they’d have the time of their lives.Jesswould just have to take his word for it.Rightnow, her heart was thumping and her foot, tapping.Next, the instructor spent fifteen minutes getting them kitted up in their jumpsuits and teaching them the body positions for free fall and landing. ‘Armsout, legs up,’Jessrepeated under her breath like a mantra as she hung from the parachute simulator.
Forsome ridiculous reason, she had chosen the higher jump at 15,000 feet when she signed up, which would give her a full minute of free fall.Shecursed the past version of herself that ticked that box.She’dalso bought the package that included a photographer just so she had some evidence of this insanity to show her donors.
Thewaiting was the worst part.Aftertheir training, they had to sit in a holding room until their slot came up.Jessstared at the company’s logo, printed in bright purple on the opposite wall, and tried to stop her teeth from chattering.Theclear, windless weather meant that it was running smoothly.Todistract herself,Jessdecided to make small talk with her other jumpers, the oldest of whom was seventy years old.Hereassured her that this was his fifth jump, and she’d love it.
Shecalmed down after that.
Butthen her anxiety shot right up again as they climbed into the plane.Itseemed way too small to hold as many people as it did; she counted eleven, not including the pilot.Theatmosphere was jolly.Theother jumpers whooped and high-fived, butJessjust wanted to concentrate on not hyperventilating.
Thejumpers snuggled together on the floor, remindingJessof that game she played with her kids where they all had to sit between each other’s legs in a line and pretend to be onToad’sWildRide.Likebabies in a front-loaded papoose, each of her fellow jumpers was attached to a tandem instructor.Jessfoundherself harnessed to a stockyNorwegianadrenaline junkie namedKjell.Heintroduced her to her photographer.Shemissed his name in the roar of the plane’s engines, but he had a tinted visor like theStigfromTopGearand he appeared ready for business with the cameras attached to his helmet.Atleast she’d receive high-quality memorabilia of her screaming her head off.Henodded and saluted at her.
‘Armsout, legs up,’ she mumbled under her breath.Shesat closest to the slatted door, through which she could see the tarmac rushing past outside.Therattling and the roaring made it hard to concentrate.Sheclosed her eyes to try and block it all out.
ShewishedGabrielwere here.Sheremembered how safe she’d felt in his presence on the helicopter.Inher head, she imagined it wasn’tEngland, butParisbelow her.Openingher eyes, she peered through the open slats of the door to search for a cloud in the blue sky.There, in the distance, just like she remembered them.ToyStoryclouds.Onlyone or two, but their presence helped her calm her racing heart and pretend thatGabrielwas with her.Shebreathed in, almost believing that she smelled his cologne beneath the tang of petrol.
Suddenlyone of the other instructors opened the door next toJess.Thewind intensified along with her heart rate.Herstomach hollowed out as she saw the patchwork ofSalisburybelow her.NotParisat all.
WhyamIdoing thiiiiiissss?
Ared light near the door pinged green.
‘Okay!’ saidKjell. ‘That’sus!’
‘What?We’refirst?!’ she panicked.Herstomach turned and her breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon threatened to re-appear.Whatif she vomited while she was in the air?She’dnever be able to show the video to anyone.
‘Yup!Luckyus!’ he shouted near her ear. ‘Trustme, it’s better than sitting around and waiting.’
Herpoor heart.Todayit rode a rollercoaster of fear as it pumped even harder.Thephotographer climbed out of the plane and clung to some bars outside, like he was stepping out for a leisurely breath of fresh air.
Kjellscooted them towards the door, so her legs dangled outside over the void.Allshe wanted to do was scoot them back in the other direction, into the safety of the plane, but she was no longer in charge.Kjellwas the boss.Thisjump would be happening, ready or not.Shetried not to look down.
Shelooked down.
Shiiiiiiiiiittttt.
Secondsstretched as they lingered on the edge.
Thephotographer jumped first.Amoment later,Kjellfollowed.
Jesswas flying!
Allthe fear that had been crashing through her moments ago disintegrated as the wind flattened the front of her jumpsuit to her body.Freefalling, she realised, didn’t really describe the sensation because she didn’t feel like she was falling at all.Theair acted like a huge pillow, cushioning her.Kjelltapped her shoulder to remind her to cactus her arms, which she dutifully did.
