A Leap of Faith!!

Prologue: A literary account of emotions experienced during a night-bungy from the Macau Tower!!

Clad in clunky and clangy chains, I reclined on the chair, cloaking my inner turmoil with a slight smile that lay frozen to mark suavity. Possessed by insolence, the tempestuous weather seemed to imitate me, giving an explicit ring to my psychic pandemonium. The sea demon joined in, lashing out with a might that became merciless with every strike, making my unyielding face smart from the salty chill.

Putting up a brave face was not too demanding till now, as a 10-foot distance ensured I was blind to the reality lurking underneath. But, as the moment drew near, the mask of bravado I had staged began peeling off. Lips I had poised for charm quivered and my throat ran dry on account of a fat lump squatting right above my larynx. Swallowing painfully, I tasted the lump and realized it was cowardice. Immediately, bolting away felt wise. Alas!! There was nothing I could do now. So, I stayed put, while my conflicted conscience struggled like a fish caught in a net.

Then, they came - Two incredibly handsome guys who were supposed to help me drag myself to the iron-beam that overlooked the gorge. With hands as sturdy as a weathered redwood, they offered support as I glided from the chair. Feeling safe in their hands, my timid mind, as if in a trance, let them take control of my balance and walk me over to the edge. Clueless, I did what their hands asked. They pointed up to a cctv camera boring into my soul from the right corner of the roof and waved; I waved too, flashing a toothy grin that went oddly twisted on reaching my cheeks taut from fret. Then, they pointed to another camera down below, partially visible from the take-off board. My eyes followed them but stopped midway, beholding the inky pit below. 

I blinked once and yet again, my eyes took in only the murk. 

I blinked again and, lo and behold, the utopian existence within the dark abyss unveiled itself. Transfixed, I spotted the peacock sea dancing ferociously a few blocks away; the gleaming velvet sky studded with diamonds, so far yet so near; the lit-up city spread dripping with urban finesse. All at once, I was - numb to the pinching cold of the wind; deaf to the blustery uproar; and defiant of the earthly pull that held the world together. Not wanting to move in time, I shut my eyes tight, capturing the picturesque panorama inside. Taking a deep breath, I felt strangely calm and ready. 

Opening my eyes, I turned momentarily to give the guys a thumbs-up and leaped. Into the twilight I went, becoming nothing but a blurry speck descending like lightning toward the ground that lay 230m away. At 200km/h, the gust became a maniac, hitting harder. It sent a searing pain through my cheeks and pulled at my hair roots. Shedding away all inhibitions worth a lifetime, I spread my arms wide. For the next 15 seconds, I was a bundle of my favorite emotions - free like my will; fierce like a wildling; weightless like a feather; unstoppable like a rolling mass of snow.

A mere 30 meters from the ground, my speed slowed and with a jerk, I rebounded upward a few meters. Then, I found myself hanging upside down, my mortality hinged to a single bloody rope. As the cable system at the other end of the rope began lowering me steadily toward the landing, I spent the last few seconds relishing the exquisite outlook and willing for it to last. Soon, I touched ground and a bubbly Hmong helped me out of the gear while I managed to stand on my rubbery legs.

And I walked away!! With a satisfied smile, a rejuvenated spirit and an emptied pocket.