Off I Go

It was after school that I found myself standing by the edge of the cliff looking down at the crystal-clear waters that flowed below me. Its pale blue waters looked calm and welcoming on the hot summer's day. 'A perfect day for a swim' I thought to myself as I inhaled the calming air. So, I slowly took off my clothes but left my tight shorts I wear under my tracksuit bottoms on and my vest too, just so it would be easier to get dry and so I wouldn't be swimming naked, I did not need that on camera.

I took out my bauble and let my curly-brown hair fall down my back. At first, I debated if I should going in, my family wouldn't want me doing it and would surely be angry at me if I risked my life, even if I told them why I was doing it, but I certainly wouldn't be brave if I let something like that stop me. I turned my head and my twin, Ashêanna was sitting there holding her phone – wanting to video me. Not that I knew why until I remembered what I was doing here in the first place:

I was doing it all as dare – my friends had said that I wasn't brave, but I said that I was and I would do anything to prove that I was. They said that I had to jump off the highest cliff in the mountains and into the sea. I agreed thinking that I could just tell them and not have to have proof but no they said I had to have my twin film it on her phone to show to them. I still agreed because I was no wimp, I could do it and nothing could stop me.

I looked back at the water that went off into the distance where the sea met the sky and made the blue look like it didn't seem to end and closed my eyes. I took deep breaths to calm myself down – if you jump into water scared then you could die of lack of oxygen to the brain. I put my arms above my head and bent my knees… then I jumped into the water below.

It felt powerful jumping into the ocean. It feels like breaking a barrier that was thought to be unbreakable – but nothing is unbreakable. It did hurt a little bit but that pain soon passed and I could really feel what it was like. The water was welcoming on my face and I felt glad that I said that I would do it. I had to make sure to thank them. for making me do a dare like this, as they sometimes made disgusting dares to make people prove their worth, I must be one of the lucky ones.

My skin was getting a massage by the water. My eyes were getting an adventure by the fish that passed by. It was amazing and nothing could go wrong – I mean the conditions were perfect. The water was calm. The sun was shining. It was at the right level that when I dived so I couldn't hurt myself, but it was easy to come back up for air. The temperature was fine for my body – it was like nature made it for me.

I had spent enough time under and then I broke the waves – lifting my head I looked up at the sky. I then looked at Ashêanna – who was smiling at the fact that I was okay. I waved up at the camera. I was proud of myself for what I did. Told them I wasn't a wimp. Then I noticed a problem – I didn't know how I was supposed to get back up. I wasn't the best at climbing, and everyone knew that.

I wanted to show them that anything is possible if you , so I swam over to the cliff face and started climbing up it. Occasionally I would turn around while climbing up and look at the view – all while Ashêanna filmed it. It was all going well until it wasn't. Disaster struck when my hand slipped on the cliff face. The rock was too smooth, and my hands were too wet. As soon as Ashêanna noticed she turned off the video and knelt down for my hand.

It was too far. She couldn't reach. I looked up at her, sorry for what was about to happen. I pushed both of my hands and my body of the cliff face and fell backwards. "Atchaco what are you doing!" Ashêanna screamed at me. I could tell she was crying because her voice was horse and worried. I looked up at her, at her pleading eyes and whispered that I was sorry before I slammed into the waves down below.

The sea didn't feel as calm now. It felt threatening and dangerous which it always should have felt like, it can always be dangerous. It just makes you feel what you want to feel, to make you feel calm and unafraid before it bites back at your stupidity. I don't know how long passed when I realised that I was running out of air, with the thought that my lungs were on fire, so this is how being drowned feels like, I hate it. I tried to lift my head to get that much needed oxygen into my lungs, but it was too heavy, my body just wouldn't allow it.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming towards me. A man, I think it was but the water made it hard to tell. I lifted my head slightly, but the image was distorted for I was under the waves that he was walking in. The man must have realised that I was still alive because he started to jog over me – he must be a doctor – he would have run towards me otherwise. I smiled knowing that I might have a chance to live, I was also filled with regret and hatred for not listening to my sister when she said that everything could go and probably would go wrong.

He knelt down in front of my face and he was concerned yet he looked so happy like he was proud of something. His hair was short and tidy, a little bit grey but it was mainly do to stress as some of it fell out when he bent down towards me. I could see some people in tow, holding something as they advanced towards me, yeah definitely doctors.

"Atchaco." He said. His voice was soothing and young. "Don't worry. We are going to get you out of here." I smiled at him and he smiled back. He saw me slowly closing my eyes and said, "You need to try and stay awake until we can get you out of the water, okay." I was going to nodded but he kept my head in place, from fear that may have damaged my spine. "Try and stay very still, can you do that for me." I blinked once, showing that I understood what he was saying. My eyes were feeling very droopy and it was getting harder for me to keep them open.

I felt something be placed across my face and that's when my body realised that I was going to be safe and fell limp in the man's arms. I could only understand some of what the man was saying, like lift and reassuring my twin that I will get better. I felt someone place their hand on top of mine. "I'm sorry." I mumbled weakly. I heard a soft voice, my father's voice saying go back, go back to them.

I suddenly heard the swooshing of blades and I felt vibrations go all over my body, I was in a helicopter, to be honest this was not how I dreamt that I would first be flying, I thought it would be on an airplane going to America or Iceland, not on a flying air ambulance going to hospital after falling off a cliff. I laughed but regretted it when I felt pain go all over my bod and I screamed. "Just try to relax." A voice said, it was the man again. "Everything will be okay." I smiled at him. "You can go to sleep, now." He said and I finally passed out. I heard some screaming and crying but each time I would black out as quick as I heard it.

Then it just stopped.

Then I floated in endless blackness.

Until it was no longer dark.

It was bright and heavenly.