Parachuting Story

by Melnyk Anna

“That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying.”   - said Tom to his friend, even though it was very hard for him to talk and even to move right now…

Tom was an absolutely ordinary man. From day to day he had the routine life.  Each day was the same. Every single day he woke up at 6 am, went into the bath, washed and brushed his teeth, prepared breakfast. Then he usually ate breakfast, washed up dishes and then went to work. Tom had been working at the same firm for almost 20 years. He had no incentive and motivation in his work and worked just for money. But it should be mentioned, that he never asked for a lot, he was satisfied with what he had. He was satisfied with his small salary. He was satisfied with his colleagues and the chief. He even was satisfied with stress at work! Tom got used to such life and never complained. He was quite a calm phlegmatic person who had very little interest in life. All Tom’s life was full of the daily routine. After work, Tom usually read a newspaper or watched TV. At 19.00 he usually had supper. At 10.00 he usually went to bed. On Saturday he went to the same cinema and watched movie. On Sunday he usually met with his friend at the nearest bar and drank one beer. He could never drink more or less, always the same one beer.
That was the kind of life that Tom was accustomed to.
One usual evening Tom was sitting in his chair and as usual was watching TV. The program was about “base jumping” –the activity, where participants jump from fixed objects and use a parachute to break their fall. And while watching that program something strange happened with Tom. Suddenly he remembered how desperately he dreamt about parachuting in his childhood, how he dreamt to fly.
That night Tom could not sleep. He was thinking again and again about flying. About parachuting and base jumping…
Next day at work he couldn’t work. All his thoughts were about flying, even though he tried to stop thinking about it. Finally Tom understood that the only way to throw these thoughts out of his head was to make his childish dream true and finally try a parachute jump.
So the Tom reported him sick and left work earlier. He called skydiving center that organize parachute jumps and agreed about the jump for next day.
Next day Tom went to do his first jump. For Tom it was amazing. He was full of bright and unforgettable emotions looking forward to that jump! He never felt anything close to that before…
A week later Tom jumped again. In a month he did 6 jumps! Tom was absolutely  inspired by that extreme. Some time later Tom decided that he want to try base jumping. Base jump is considered to be the most dangerous type of skydiving and regarded as a very extreme sport. To start the base jumping Tom had to make at least 200 parachute jumps. He had to make so many jumps to get the skills to manage a dome, precision landing and breaking off.
Those jumps, of course, cost lot of money. Tom spent all his savings. Finally, he decided to sell his expensive house and buy the smaller one. Tom’s relatives and friend told him that he was crazy. But for Tom jumping became the real purpose for which he came into this world.
After two years of intensive training Tom finally was able to exercise his first base jump from the rock.
The instructor gave him the advise  to make the jump next day because the weather was not the best. But Tom could no longer wait. He climbed up with the parachute and all equipment to the rock. And without delay Tom jumped! For a few moments Tom felt the unforgettable experience of free fall! He felt the infinity of every moment, enjoyed the feeling of flight and admired the blue sky overhead.
But then suddenly a strong wind blew and by the wind Tom was gone to the rock...
Tom woke up in hospital with multiple injuries and fractures. Beside him  his friend was sitting and looking at Tom both accusingly and with sympathy. But to Tom’s friend  surprise, crippled Tom smiled. His body ached terribly, but his soul was happy.
.
„Don’t worry, friend! - whispered Tom, even though it was painful for him to talk. – Even such my failure beat the hell out of never trying! Even lying here, in hospital, I do not regret about anything. Cause I was incredibly lucky to feel that flight and to manage to understand the uniqueness and value of life…”