When Time Reveals Beauty: A Leap Beyond Boundaries

My body was powerless, continuously free-falling. My hands tried to move, grasping at empty air, my breath was held back, my throat was choked, unable to scream even though there was so much tightness in my chest wanting to burst out.

The shadow of the abyss grew smaller. I didn't want to fall, didn't want to die, didn't want any of this to happen but what could I do?

I felt so helpless and took a deep breath, looking up at the sky and clouds with a few birds flying by.

Now, I could only entrust myself to Him, accepting everything.

Memories of my life flashed back, and I felt so calm and sacred. Death felt so close to my lips. I saw the sky far above... and a memory emerged.

My hand slowly reached upwards, wanting to grasp that blue sky.

My sky... My dream... I want to fly...

Want to soar into the blue sky.

I looked at the sky between my hands and closed my eyes slowly.

Oh God, someday let me fly. Maybe in my next life...

My body kept falling, and I resigned to my fate. Seconds ticked by. Everything was so silent and peaceful, I reopened my eyes looking at the blue sky and saw my motobike right above me, falling so slowly.

So slow or perhaps not moving at all.

I could clearly hear the sound of waves breaking on the cliffs below, even the splash of cold water wetting my back.

Right then, my conscious mind took over; I should've fallen and hit the rocks, and my body suddenly plunged back.

My back hit the water, and my hand struck a protruding rock, instantly inflicting pain deep into the bone. The next second, my motobike also fell and struck my foot underwater. My body stopped sinking after my back hit a coral at the seabed, and just as quickly, I felt the wounds from the sharp rocks above screaming in pain from the salty sea water.

Forgetting all the pain, I swam upward, taking a breath and pushing my face to the surface of the water. My hands immediately reached for a large coral, forcing my body towards it to crawl atop it. The coral felt cold, slippery, and in some places rough and sharp. With much effort, I finally managed to lie on its slick surface, my lungs expanding and contracting rapidly. My tongue tasted salty. My body felt cold and shivered.

The sound of the waves continued to pound hard, splashing water everywhere on my body and face. My eyes gazed at the blue sky above. My brain was still unable to think, and I looked at the upper end of the crossroads where I had fallen earlier, which now seemed very distant.

And I didn't die.

A shrill bird's cry could be heard, and I shivered in silence until finally, my voice managed to come out, "He…hehehe…" I laughed, feeling lucky or maybe because the shock in my chest was so overwhelming that I didn't know how to react. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I laughed out loud, releasing the tightness in my chest with my heart pounding intensely.

It feels so good to be alive.

Anger towards Alphonso just vanished, becoming utterly insignificant compared to this event. My breathing gradually slowed after the intense laughter, and my eyes closed. I was very sure that just a moment ago, I had paused in mid-air with my motobike. I still remember every sensation and the sacredness of floating in the air. I yearned for those feelings, the sensation I first felt when I believed I was flying above my bed. The feeling when I was learning to fly in a bus. The feeling of flying free from the Earth's gravity which was so suffocating. I missed it.

Tears streamed down my face. I was sure this wasn't a dream; my body remembered the feeling. My jaw clenched tightly.

Oh God, tell me that I flew.

Tears filled my eyes. I longed to fly; I really, truly wanted it, but was I still dreaming, trying to deceive myself again? So many emotions surged within me: fear, disbelief, a desire to return, anger, and more.

"Hehe..hehe…" eventually a laughter emerged from my lips. I thought of something, and I felt I was about to do it, something wild and reckless.

Slowly, I moved to sit up, opened my wet clothes, and looked at the scrapes and bruises on my hands and back. I didn't care as I took off my shoes and, with bare feet, plunged into the sea and began to swim to the shore. I knew that not far from where I was, there was a small uphill path that would lead me back to the main road. I walked slowly up the slope, being careful not to slip, smiling eerily, feeling certain I was about to do something insane.

I don't know if I can fly, but I have many reasons to seek that truth. A truth that has tormented me for three years, making me doubt myself and haunting my every nightmare. My body shivered, and tears filled my eyes. My bare feet continued to step on the rocky terrain, climbing the gorge until reaching the sun-heated asphalt.

Not long after, I was standing right at the crossroads where I had hit the low barrier earlier. I could see the mark of my motorcycle's collision on the roadside barrier. Taking a deep breath, I stepped over the barrier and stood half a meter from the edge of the cliff, looking down where the waves crashed, creating white foam. The wind blew hard against my skin, making my wet trousers even colder and caressing my body.

I gazed far into the sea, at the sun which was beginning to cast a reddish hue for the first time before night approached and the moon shone. The seawater sparkled under the red light, rolling in the wind, with the vast sky stretching far, forming a line in the distance meeting with the horizon of the sea. The sky was adorned with deep blue, orange, and red hues. A sense of tranquility seeped into me along with the sound of the waves and the gusts of wind. I could feel the ground and rocks under my bare feet, and the scrapes on my hands and elbows now stung from the cold wind. For a moment, sanity revisited me. Was I about to do this crazy thing?

Am I sure about jumping from this height again?

I looked down one more time…

If I don't succeed, maybe this time I'll die. Am I pushing my luck too far?

Perhaps I should start from a lower place, something less life-threatening, or use a rope. I took a deep breath. The seawater wetting my hair dripped slowly, and the scratches on my body throbbed painfully.

I've waited far too long for the day I could fly; three years is not a brief moment. My jaw tightened, my teeth clenched, as if this alone could strengthen my spirit, heart, and soul. My breath deepened and slowed, I wouldn't die – if I were to die, then I would die trying to reach my dream. This is not a path to death, it's a path to a new life.

But what if I die?

If I don't do it now, I'd surely regret it for the rest of my life. My eyes closed tightly, and I prayed to the God who created the heavens and the earth. Slowly, I opened my eyes, looking again at the beautiful sun, the clouds dancing in the reddish sky as if beckoning me to join. The wind began to gust from behind, urging me to take flight into the boundless sky, to dance with it. My heartbeat sang, urging me to grasp my freedom.

My arms spread wide, like a bird stretching its wings. I felt the wind blow through me, against my bare chest, my open arms, and fingers. My breath grew calm, my body relaxed, feeling an overwhelming peace and freedom. Fear slowly faded away, replaced by a long-lost feeling, a sensation of liberty. Without moving my upper body, I let myself fall backward, my arms still outstretched.

I plummeted, the rushing air stinging my eyes, unlike before, now my face was directed towards the rocks and the sea waves. Fear gripped me, so I decided to shut my eyes and focus inwardly, feeling the fierce wind enveloping me. A sensation arose from deep within my chest, a feeling I had missed for so long. My entire body vibrated from this powerful and delightful sensation, evoking an astonishing feeling of freedom.

A sensation that set every cell of my body ablaze, tingling every nerve.

"I CAN FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, eyes open, letting this powerful emotion cascade over me, surging and rolling like mighty waves, bursting forth from within, electrifying every fiber of my being. It made me feel so grand, so incredible, and invincible, as if I could do anything.

That sacred feeling returned.

I felt another explosion of energy from within, pushing outward. Breaking down anything that had restrained or locked away that energy, releasing it to flow out of me in every direction. My descent began to slow until I finally stopped mid-air.

Hovering between the steep cliffs.

Simultaneously, I felt incredibly light, floating and surrounded by gently flowing energy. It felt as if I was floating in warm water, so weightless. I swam in the air, and when I thought of moving forward, my body glided so peacefully and delightfully through the air ahead. Everything felt so natural. I gazed at the rocks below without fear or worry, seeing them as they are, just rocks, and I felt an inner peace so refreshing and untouched by any negative emotions.

Only pure happiness and true joy.

I continued to fly towards the sea alongside the wind and birds fluttering around the cliffs. Joy and happiness overflowed in every part of me until... suddenly, I thought of falling, and my body instantly felt heavy. The energy and tranquility within me felt as if they were leaking out, and next, I felt myself plummeting until my face and the front of my body slammed into the sea.

It hurt a lot and felt burning. I quickly swam upwards, spitting out and coughing up the water that had forced its way into my mouth, nose, and throat. While moving my arms and legs in the water to stay afloat, I turned to look at the spot where I had previously leaped, about 100 meters away.

I flew about 100 meters away from the cliff.

"WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!" I shouted in jubilation.

My lips smiled, my heart thumped loudly, feeling like I was madly in love, and my whole body felt spirited; I was elated. Now, there's no doubt in my mind that I can fly.

"I flew... hahahah... hahaha… hahaha!!!"

I yelled over and over until I finally tired out and lay floating on the sea's surface. I gazed at the sky, trying to contain the overflowing exhilaration within me.

"I flew,"

I whispered so softly…

I flew…

Though it was only a brief flight, it was the first step that would change my life. It wasn't a dream, and I wholly believed I could fly.

"I flew…."

Tears unexpectedly flowed again. Sadness, a sense of freedom, and all the burdens I've held for so long slowly transformed into something weightless, insignificant, and evaporated. For the first time, I felt the beauty in life after all my struggles and sufferings. Finally, my dream was realized.

Thank you, God.

And my tears flowed gently, cleansing my entire being and all my burdens.

It felt like I was being purified once more.

Again, I felt a comforting sensation, calmness, and was enveloped in a soft energy flowing from within. I felt a cool breeze on my back, and when I opened my eyes, I was hovering about two meters above the sea surface. It startled me, and I fell back into the water, my back slamming against the sea.

It hurt so much.