Falling To The Wind

Fly. Fly. Fly.

Gravity takes over as I step out off the slack line 50 feet in the air. Wind rushes past me as it pulls and pushes against everything that I am. As I hit the net, the crowd applauds at the simple trick that i can not perfect. Just because they can't do it doesn't mean it's good, is all that repeats in my head. My body is still, calm, and constricted by the tight embrace of the safety net that is required for the new kids like me. Once again I have failed, fallen, but when has that ever stopped me?

I was finally pulled out of the tight grip of the nets by my stage mate, and friend, Landen after the show. "Just a bit more practice! Your act is going to be beautiful one day Raven," Landen remarked in overly cheerful tones. That kid is always way to happy for his own good. "Thanks for the optimism..." is all I could muster from my self pity. Hell! I am an apprentice for one of the best circuses in the country! I can't afford to mess up in front of my superiors.

Once I work my way through the maze of rooms and tents, I finally arrive to my small secluded broom closet that shouldn't even be called a room. I threw the door open with no regard of what I would come in contact with and feel to my knees in the middle of the room. My body has not become acclimated to the exertion I am put through each day now. I do not want to move, but I want to be alone. I extend my leg just enough to hit the door. The door screeches against the hinges and slams in to the door frame. I settled back down on to the cold floor just to hear a familiar THUD at my door. The boot comes in contact with my door once more before I give in. "Come in Lex," I say in a weak voice that I can barley recognize as my own. "I have to admit girly, you did pretty good for your second day, but it only gets harder from here. Just remember, it will eventually become your routine," then the scrawny looking boy left, softly closing the door behind him.

I finally found the strength to peel myself from the floor and fell onto my bed, which is not much better than the floor to be honest. All my muscles are burning, screaming "just give up!" But all I could hear from it was "Don't give up! You don't want to repeat past mistakes." As I tried to find the much needed sleep, I could only focus on the big lettering "FLY! FLY!" Carved into the false ceiling above me. As I drifted off to sleep, I could only imagine myself falling again.

I was abruptly woken up to the same THUD at my door and giggling. The tell tale sign of my two favorite people. "Wakey, wakey Ray! Time to train!" Landen sang to the door. "I'm opening this door, and if you are not standing with a smile on your face, I will carry you out to the stage and throw you off the high wire." Lex said in a way to serious tone. Right as I herd the doorknob start to turn I threw my self out of my bed, but with a bit to much momentum... As my door opened, I hit the wall on the other side of my small room. The next thing I know I am in Landed and Lexus's room with an ice pack on my head and a note on my chest. The note read;
Dear Raven,
We did not want to leave you unattended, but we had a show to be in. We will be back in two hours. There is food in the mini fridge and your room is two lefts one right and three lefts away, if you wish to go back.
Sincerely Landen.
P.s. if you mess up my half of the room, you will not walk for the next week. See ya in a bit!
-Lex

A small laugh escaped my mouth as I tried to sit up from what I assume to be Landen's bed. Who else would have a inspirational quotes stitched into their pillows? When I finally achieved an upright position, my vision began to blur. As soon as I was up, I was down again. I am useless. I stayed on the floor until the boys return to check on me.

When they arrive, I was in the middle of the floor starring at the ceiling. "Have you forgotten how to use your muscles? You need to get down to training before Tracy puts a bounty on your head..." Lex smirks at me while Landen swats at the strawberry-blond's shoulder. "Let her rest. And don't joke about the She-Devil so openly!" Landen whispers in retaliation. "WHO EVER IS HARBORING MY APPRENTICE OWES ME 600 PULL-UPS!!! Meet me in the mess hall immediately! No exceptions or excuses." Tracy's shrill voice booms through the halls. Right then Lexus picked me up and carried me to the mess hall with Landen in tow.

We walked through the halls silently, none of us daring enough to speak. When we arrived in the mess hall, Tracy was the only one in sight, everyone to scared to be in the same room as her right now. She is my mentor, and the most feared person under the big-top. "I could have guessed that it would be you two walking into this room. Raven, what is your reasoning?" I quickly responded, explaining my collision with the fierce wall. "You are to clumsy! Boys, you are excused and exempt from the punishment. Return to your schedule, and I'll handle this trouble maker, and her two left feet." Lex gently placed me on the floor before the two silently walked out of the room.

Despite her scary demeanor, Tracy is a kind person. "Ray, Ray, Ray. What am I ever going to do with you? First tripping on the slack line, and now face planting walls? Can you stand?" She placed her hands under my arms and gingerly lifted me from the ground. I found my footing and took a step back to distance my self and to show that I could do something on my own. "Tray, don't pity my clumsiness. Just have today be normal training." "As you wish sunshine," she retorted using her new found nickname for me. "Go do the normal exercises and stretches, then practice your slack line routine. I don't want you to do it until it is perfect. I want you to do it until it becomes impossible for you to screw it up. Now go! You have a lot to do!"