The roar of the plane's engines filled my ears as I gripped the edge of the open hatch, my heart pounding with a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. Below, the patchwork landscape stretched out in a dizzying panorama, beckoning me to take the plunge. This was it - the moment I had been preparing for, the culmination of months of training and inner reflection. With a deep breath, I leaned forward and stepped out into the open sky, free-falling at terminal velocity.