The things we can't control

Chapter 2

"Are you ready?" 

"No not really." 

        I was standing at the open door of the airplane. Dylan was right beside me and we both had a person strapped to our backs because we weren't over eight teen. I looked over the edge and didn't feel ready. We were so high that I could see the curve of earth. I was terrified. I knew it would all come to me right when I had to jump. Dylan smiled at me and I felt warmth in between my fingers, "Alice it's okay, I'm right here." He squeezed my hand with reassurance. Butterflies tickled my stomach and a smile formed on my face, I didn't feel so scared anymore. I inhaled and exhaled, feeling the pain of cancer.

Screw you cancer  I thought, and my fear went away completely. I was ready to jump. Dylan looked at me and his eyes remained calm, which kept me calm. His eyes were a nest I made myself at home in. "Okay now I'm ready." I said with enthusiasm. He replied with the same amount of energy. "Okay let's do this." I took a step closer to the edge and so did he. This was the short moment before falling, so I shut my eyes and smiled.

One, two, three. I jumped.

I fell.

I kept falling.

I was flying.

I was free.

Alive. 

My eyes were closed.

I opened them.

Then I saw him.

He was like a bird in the sky. 

So graceful.

So free.

His arms were spread and his eyes were closed.

What was going through his mind?

I didn't know.

"I love you Dylan." I whispered.

It felt awesome.

I wasn't scared.

I shut my eyes and spread my arms.

They were now my wings.

I learned how to fly.

I could fly.

"I CANNN FLYYYYY." I shouted, extending my words.

"WE'RE FLYINGGGG." I heard him say afterwards. 

He was closer to me.

The moment was perfect.

The parachutes flew out.

And we slowly got closer to the ground.

I looked over at Dylan and his hair made me laugh. It was a scruffy mess but I realized mine was probably worse and stopped laughing. We floated peacefully, enjoying the breathtaking view surrounding us. That was the best thing I'd ever done. I felt the warmth in between my fingers again. It was his hand, his warm hand that sent shivers down my spine. I looked to Dylan and had the biggest smile plastered on my face. He started laughing and pointed to my hair. "I love the new look." He teased. I loved when he teased me. "Do you? 'Cause I think yours is better." I replied while giggling. He shook his head and tried fixing his hair but only made it worse. 

His eyes came back to mine.

We were still slowly falling together, fingers intertwined. 

His mouth slightly opened.

"Alice I - I'm"

My heart started beating faster.

"I'm -" 

He was stuttering.

Dylan never stuttered.

"I'm, so happy we did this." 

My heart steadied. 

How silly of me to think he was going to say something else.

"I'm so happy too." 

I was happy.

I was unhappy.

I was everything but nothing at the same time.