Fear of Falling

The lizard regarded me curiously. Its black eyes on a shimmering blue head appeared to have been rammed into its sockets. Rolling out its crimson tongue like a red carpet, it mocked me. There was a glint in its eyes or perhaps it had just been the sun's reflection playing tricks on me?
“Whatever happens,” the abseiling instructor said scratching his carroty hair with a marvelous grin, “Never look down.” He handed us climbing harnesses that looked like adult-size diapers. With nervous chuckles we wore them around our waists.
“The harness secures you as you descend,” he reassured the group of six teenagers pledged to ‘live life’ before the daunting task of collecting examination results.
“Let's kill ourselves before our parents do!” joked Nqobile whose bright idea had been to take this trip to Matopos Hills.
The instructor, Nick, with a rumbling guffaw that reverberated down the undulating hills said, “Don’t worry I have never lost a man.” He regarded me with a smile, “Or woman.” Putting on my gloves, I gulped, choosing to focus on the sapphire horizon instead of the impending descent.
1…2...3 all five boys abseiled down the rock face to the bottom without any glitches. My turn. Putting on the mask of dare, I began the descent.
“Keep your feet apart,” he cautioned. “Lean back.” His figure slowly faded away as I made my way to the ground, my trembling feet waddling like a duck.
The whipping heat and nerves sent sweat streaming down my body.The rope slithered in my gloved hand as I increased my pace, the adrenaline jogging through my veins.
Halfway down the rock face, in a moment’s weakness, I glanced at the earth below. The jade trees swirled like a vortex beneath me and I panicked. Losing grip, I let go of the rope and crashed into the wall screaming. Dangling in the air, I waited for the end to come as a lizard silently crawled towards me.
How did I end up here?
Our eyes locked, the lizard and I, and in that instant I understood why it was laughing at me. With a nod of its head, like a professor whose wise teachings had finally been absorbed by a dim student, it crawled away.
“Push your feet back against the wall,” Nick's voice called, "grab the rope.”
I ignored my juvenile fears of falling and soldiered on. Slowly I made it to the bottom into the embrace of a group hug. My ungraceful collision and eerie encounter had taught me that it is not bravado that makes champions. It is the belief and courage to finish the race even when you are last!