Acrophobia

I Inhale deeply.

Exhale.

My breath visible,

ghostly.

I glance up at the sky,

clear.

The whitest flakes of snow

float softly down from above,

disappearing below my numb feet.

Goosebumps and a shiver,

Is it from the fear or from the cold?

Voices.

I can’t discern the shouts from below.

My name?

Are they beckoning me?

Trying to stop me?

I’ve already come this far.

I take one more deep breath.

The cold air hurts my lungs.

My eyelids shut out my surroundings.

I leap forward.

Icy air rushes past me,

freezing my body,

time,

everlasting.

.           .           .

Splash.

Icy waters swallow my body whole.

My head breaks the surface.

With one final deep breath,

I inhale accomplishment,

exhale fear.