#WEP #JUNECHALLENGE - Close Encounters of the Third Kind. My #flashfiction, Gone in 60 Seconds

 Hi! Welcome to the June WEP challenge, Close Encounters of the Third Kind using the sci-fi movie as the prompt. 

I'm sharing a nail biter I wrote in 2010 and have never shared on my blog. I think it encapsulates a close encounter. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think in the comments.

            

 Gonein 60 Seconds

 

I panic.

Forget everythingI’ve been taught.

Okay, 60 secondsof free falling has been sweet, but now the parachute is supposed to take upthe slack, but guess what? Yep. Just my luck. The shanky thing gets itselfstuck and here I go, free falling, free screaming, heading for the ground at agreat rate of knots.

Tug! Tug! Tug!

It’s stuck allright! I lose all hope of hearing that thunderous whoosh, seeing that gentlepuff of parachute silk billowing above me. Nah, this time it’s just me, the skyand that old enemy, gravity. I’m no longer floating. I’m dropping towards theground like a lead ball, faster, faster. I force my eyes open again and try toreason with myself. I probably have another 60 seconds before impact.

Think! Think!Think!

 I manoeuvre my body back into the archposition which isn’t easy when my limbs are stiff with terror. In training I’vebeen shown how you can direct your flight in free fall, so with a great deal ofeffort I pull my arms slightly back at the shoulders and straighten my legs asI’ve been taught. My heart begins to thump again. The adrenalin rushes throughme.

I know what to doand I do it.

I move backwardsby extending my arms and bending my knees like I’m trying to touch the back ofmy head with my heels. From this position I can make a left or right turn bytwisting my upper body slightly. You might be wondering why I’m bothering butI’d been told in training for my solo jump that you can survive a free fallfrom up to 50,000 feet if you stay in control and hey, I’m only at 11,000 feetso I must be in with a chance, don’t you think? A survival float, they call it.Choose your drop zone. I know I’ll have a better chance of survival if I land ona nice soft spot. Or in deep water. Or even on a car or a rooftop. Anything butcement. God, not that…

 My tactics seem to be working. I have slowedmy speed and am heading towards the beach. Of course I can’t hear the wavescrashing or the seagulls calling or the surfers cursing when someone drops in—allI hear is the sound of wind screaming in my ears and my desperate prayers ‘…helpme, help me, oh God, oh Godddd...’ About 30 seconds to go.

You know how theysay your life flashes before you as you drown, well, I’m drowning in wind and extremevelocity. My life is flashing before me like a flickering movie in fast forward.

I see my children,their trusting baby faces. I see my daughter’s triumphant smile smeared with mybright red lipstick. I see my son’s joyous high five when he won his soccergame. I flash on their birthday parties and am sorry I won’t be there to shareany more. Nor will they share mine. Today they’ll be waiting for me to comehome from ‘Mummy’s air jump all by herself’ so they can yell ‘Surprise! CleverMummy!’ I see my husband, his face white with shock when I told him I intend togo solo for my thirtieth. ‘That’s far too dangerous!’ he’d yelled. ‘For God’ssake, you have children. You can’t keep jumping out of planes! You’ll be sorry!’

I’m sorry now. Iwasn’t then. The one time I’d been determined to do something just for myself,look what happens! Any moment now. Yikes, here comes the ground, faster,faster.

I’m aware of thebeach flashing by. It always lifts my spirits, gives me strength.

I won’t make it. Thewaves, too far away, in and out, in and out, the rhythm of life. Ah, life.Relax! Relax! More chance if you relax! Bend your knees! Aim for that soft,billowy sand just ahead. Dip shoulder to the left, get ready for impact. Dropzone. Drop zone. Sand dune. Yes! Careening towards me-coloursblending-whirling-blue-green-sandy-use balls of feet-point toes-swish-thwomp-roll-bounce-coverhead-arms-close-to-ears-use elbows-to-protect-head-hold-tight-grassy-knoll-coming-thump-thump-thump-thathurt-ooh-ah-blessed blackness…

 ‘Hey! Over here! Quick! She’s alive! Call Emergency!’

©Denise Covey 2010 – Fast Fiction – Gone in 60 seconds

 

WORDS: 705

FCA

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WEP's next challenge is going to be beautiful! Based on the movie Chocolat. Please join us for this sensory feast!