Taste of a test

In three, two, one, wait... point five, now… Jump!

My heart is pounding vigorously against my chest and my arms are slowly spreading in futile attempt to grasp onto something. I want to shout but my jaw is locked. The wind is hostile, rapidly drawing aghast thoughts once more: the climb was arduous and painful – slippery rocks and thorny ferns piercing my flesh. I got through a sweat-filled hour only to find myself desperately fighting the water currents that led to what looked like a cliff. I held onto a boulder intently, trying to fight my fear of heights. My tongue blurted out a curse for every wave that cascaded down my waist forcing me to kneel and bend forward. But, alas, I let go…





My thoughts halt. I can now feel the cold water permeating my toes swiftly, caressing my skin as it inches upwards, and tickling my every nerve until I yank in extreme surprise. My body folds into a fetal position. I hear a loud splash. Followed by a long drift of silence as my body aimlessly gravitates into the void. My heart stops. Time stands still. My mind floats, I fall even deeper. In here, darkness is infinite.

All of a sudden, I feel a force pulling me. I slowly open my mouth. My lips are kissing the small droplets of air that come from inside my throat. I open my eyes, follow the course of the droplets and trace a faint flash of refracted light. My frail body carves through the crystal clear water that glitters like a stream of diamond sawdust. I squint in delight. In less than a second, my head breaks into the surface. The tip of my tongue reaches out for the slightest feel of the smooth and silky mist; it tastes sweet and subtle. I take one deep breath. I smell the fresh and crisp air while it traverses my nostrils. I look up to the bright sun above me. Hair on my arms stand on end; my legs kick in utter excitement. I feel an immense sense of peace and power. Then I tell myself, “so this is the glory they were alluding to when they talked El Yunque Waterfalls.”