As I looked down, the glassy water rippled slightly from passing boats. A cold metal bar and 20 feet were the only things separating me from the ice cold ocean below. One by one, my friends climbed over the railing, ushering me to follow. I remained frozen with no intention of moving. As they jumped, there was three seconds of silence before they hit the water forming a ripple that seemed to shake me. The cold metal electrocuted my body with shots of adrenaline. The split second of straddling the railing with neither of my feet planted on the ground was scarier than jumping off the bridge itself. I maneuvered my way to the other side, effacing the only barrier between me and the open water. I felt my heart pulsing throughout every part of my body, moving from my chest to the tips of my fingers. I looked down, stunned by the distance between myself and the ocean. I am going to die. …show more content…
I hesitated at first, but when my friends reached one, I bent my knees, closed my eyes, and waited to die. Time froze as I stepped off the ledge. The sound of laughter and screaming could no longer be heard. Everything was silent and still, except my stomach. The activity of my stomach was a new feeling to me. It seemed to drop at a faster speed than the rest of my body. I waited for the water the bring a refreshing rush through my body, but it seemed to never come. Finally, I was engulfed by the water, first by my toes, then my stomach, then my head. The adrenaline rushing through me made my body oblivious to the cold sensation of the salty ocean. I opened my eyes, clouded by blue green bubbles, and swam to the surface. The sun gently hit the top of my head and I was able to hear my friends cheering when I looked up from at the bridge. As I floated in the void free of gravity, my heart racing, I realized the only thing I wanted to do was jump off that bridge
I smiled to myself and decided that I would go join in. With that, I took a huge deep breath and jumped into the salty water. The water was cool and refreshing; I felt it slide through my hair making it sway in the water. I swam deeper and deeper into the deep blue water. Sunlight streamed through it, lighting up the water around me turning it to gold. I kicked harder and I felt my muscles surge with strength and I pushed further. My lunges began to burn for the need of oxygen, but I refused to go up. I repeatedly told myself just a little bit longer. Until I was unable to proceed anymore without more air in my lungs, I swam to the top of the water taking a huge breaths, filling my lungs with air. I could then taste the salty water as it ran down my face and dripped over my lips. Just then I thought, I will never forget this moment, this place, or the experiences I felt while visiting
It was a warm rainy June night the humidity was high which made it even harder to breathe on the crammed boat. My family was asleep on the constantly rocking boat suddenly the boat shook, but my family was still fast asleep. I couldn’t seem to fall asleep so I got up and stepped out on the cold wet steel boats upper deck to get some air. When I got outside I realized that it was pouring bucket sized rain. I saw increasingly large waves crash furiously against the lower deck. Hard water droplets pelted my face, I could taste the salt water in my mouth from the spray of the ocean. Suddenly A massive wave slammed hard against the ship and almost swallowed the boat. Wind gusts started kicking up. I held onto the rail grasping it as if it were my prized possession. Suddenly I was blown
Interviewing people that have experienced the results of people leaping off the span provided the sad reality of those that seek to leave their agony. Often using morbid humor to make her point, she quoted Sgt. Lopez, “A lot of times, we pull bodies out with crabs hanging off them, speculating that crabs consider people a delicacy as much as people consider crabs” (Roach, 2001). The physics of how people perish is described in graphic detail to vulgar extremes. The majority of her writing is devoted to the descriptive recovery and unattractive nature of the jumper’s condition. Explaining how there are systems in place on the bridge to spot possible attempts to dive off the bridge Sgt. Lopez feels, “if they can get there before people jump there is a ninety-nine percent chance to stop them.” The only solution noted in the article is to put up fencing to keep people from jumping; however, she does not expand on the safety issue only to summarize with humor. Comparing the Bridge District’s reluctance to spoil the view by incorporating a barrier, to the spoiled view of a decomposed corpse (Roach,
...as hurriedly approaching my toes. I clinched my toes deeper in the sand to prepare myself to get annihilated by the wave’s white water. But, of course, it was just the familiar feeling of the cool rush between my feet as they sunk deeper into the sand. Scanning the water vigorously, I tippy toed my way out into bottomless ocean. Remembering the feeling of the tingle and than burn, I peered back to see my beach chair waiting for me in the scorching sun. While I contemplated turning around and heading back to my safe place. I continued on. I continued to walk forward. I did not stop once the water passed my waist. I would not let the phobia of jellyfish hold me back from the once place I loved the most. As the water washed over the tips of my hair, warm memories of my past fled into my mind. I let my once again peach colored toes disappear deeper into the blue water.
We set out early the next day just as dawn awoke to light our way. We wanted to put distance between us and the island of the cyclops. I had thought that the ram I had sacrificed the night before had brought us good fortune, but I was to be proven wrong. The sea glittered like millions of lustrous jewels all dancing in the placid waves of the ocean. The ocean seemed to lap at the boats, encouraging them to sail faster towards the distant lands. Wisps of white fluffy clouds streaked the light blue sky as if a painter had lazily taken his brush and dabbed it in a few places; it seemed accidental, but in reality it created a master peace. The fresh sea breeze blew in our faces along with gusts of wind that danced in the air and propelled the boats on; it seemed to beckon us to explore the ocean. It was one of the days that seemed as though nothing
As I inched my way toward the cliff, my legs were shaking uncontrollably. I could feel the coldness of the rock beneath my feet when my toes curled around the edge in one last futile attempt at survival. My heart was racing like a trapped bird, desperate to escape. Gazing down the sheer drop, I nearly fainted; my entire life flashed before my eyes. I could hear stones breaking free and fiercely tumbling down the hillside, plummeting into the dark abyss of the forbidding black water. The trees began to rapidly close in around me in a suffocating clench, and the piercing screams from my friends did little to ease the pain. The cool breeze felt like needles upon my bare skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps. The threatening mountains surrounding me seemed to grow more sinister with each passing moment, I felt myself fighting for air. The hot summer sun began to blacken while misty clouds loomed overhead. Trembling with anxiety, I shut my eyes, murmuring one last pathetic prayer. I gathered my last breath, hoping it would last a lifetime, took a step back and plun...
It takes about an hour to get to this bridge and so on the way up I was a mix of emotions. I wanted to go bridge jumping because it would be exhilarating. However, on the other hand the bridge was 35 feet above the river. I was going through all the scenarios that could happen and my heart was beating out of my chest. Then, finally we got there and I was scared to death.
My body was dyeing away, My breathing ragged and noiseless, but still it drew out at a slow pace. My footsteps made a fast crunching sound as I ran across the heavy and still ground. I was starving and my stomach fought for survival. My mind became numb and weak and I couldn’t think anymore. I got the water bottle that had been strapped onto the position of my back pack.
The sun was beating mercilessly down on me. All around as far as I could see was soft sand. Not one breathing soul. Not even a raincloud could be seen in the beautiful bright sky. My feet dragged through the hot sand as I trudged along.
I did it. I jumped off. The cold air hitting my face as I plummet towards the gravel. Some panicking, some remained still. I heard one lady scream. Crashed. The pain jolted throughout my body. It didn't hurt as much as the realisation that I didn't succeed. I was still alive. People started to surround me, some dialing 911 to seek for professional help. A man was telling me "Hold on, you'll be fine". I didn't want to hold on.
Before getting to the jump there was a thirty-minute drive to the site and on the way, I contemplated whether or not jumping was a good idea. I had been told by my friends who had gone the day before that someone got hurt by not jumping out towards the water, so I was fighting the fear of not jumping “right” or landing without hurting myself. As we arrived at the cliff it became apparent to me that forty foot high cliff was unmatched by its surroundings and, jagged rocks and murky water lay beneath it. I looked in amazement as I thought to myself about how soon I would be in what looked like a bottom less lake. I waited until someone jumped to make sure it was safe enough while my friends consistently urged me to go. I decided after a short amount of time had passed to jump. As I ran off the cliff into thin air I realized there was no turning back. I screamed at the top of my lungs and my heart seemed to pumped harder and pumped louder than it ever had before. Before I knew it I had hit the water. What had seemed like a minute in the
I felt the bridge tremble, and without hesitation I layed down. All I did was breath... and waited for my last one. A few moments later the bridge collapsed. I felt my heart pounding in my neck as I
Well, that time arrived when Dad was taking me, and nothing was going to hold me back. I watched Dad approach me as he returned from a blue and white hire tent with a long (well what seemed long at the time), bright yellow foam board. It had a small white fin sticking out its rear. We stayed shallow and like any impatient 5 year old I began to suffer from frustration as I continuously nose dived into the sand at my efforts to stand up.
It looked very different from summer time because there was nothing but snow and ice. One guy suggested we can go down and play on the lake. That was exactly what I wanted to do. I thought playing on the ice was a really cool thing. Now in retrospect, I was so naïve in that time. I was excited and I quickly ran to the lakefront. The lakefront is about 1.5 meters from the surface of the frozen lake. I didn’t think how dangerous it is, and I just jumped out of the lake! Then I shouted to the other little partners: “Come down with me, it is fantastic!” I looked at them, but no one moved. The little guy who suggested go down to the lake didn’t move either. He said he was fear of heights and he didn’t want to jump off. I was thinking to myself “These guys really don 't how to play.” I tried to walk to the other side of the lake. At first I walked slowly, then I ran up and tried to slip on the ice. After a few seconds, something bad happened. My feet suddenly broke the ice and I just fell into the lake vertically! At that moment I felt like I fell into an abyss, and exceedingly cold water immediately flooded me. The frigid water chilled me to the bone. I realized that I have to land as
This lukewarm water was deceiving though, because it only seemed lukewarm due to the drop in temperature and misty rainfall. The waves were rushing toward me like a bull to a matador’s red flag. My mouth tasted as if someone dumped a whole shaker of salt on my tongue. The wave pushed my further and faster as it I could feel the wave breaking on my body and there I was back at the shallows again floating in with the white wash and was ready for another wave. As I stood back up and ran back out to the deep water I saw one of my surfing mates catch the most perfect barrel it was rad. It would have been a great snap shot. I caught another wave, this one was even bigger. The thrust of the wave was twisting my body and I was pulled towards the sea