Jenna had seen the blue sky earlier and wanted to escape into it as she had before. She wanted to feel the exhilaration of gliding through the world again, free of worries and fears. The damage to her legs, especially her knees made it hard to walk without wincing, and the cold chains in her hands were of little comfort.
The cuts and bruising could have been much worse she was told. These wounds, no badges of pride, had happened the last time she had tried, the tears from her failure still fresh in her mind. But Jenna would not be cowed into submission by a few failed attempts. She waited, her routine still carrying her back and forth, back and forth. Those around her seemed content with that kind of life, but not this girl. Some windows of opportunity had presented themselves to her, and she wished she had taken them, but she was ready now. Fear of failure no longer holding her back.
And after careful waiting and planning she finally had found the moment she had been looking for. Without a word of warning for anyone around her, Jenna Stephens jumped.
The girl’s world changed around her, falling away and speeding by. The chains behind her jangled as her leapt from their protective yet, stifling grasp. Looking ahead she felt herself propelling forward and upward, flying. The air sped through her hair, lifting brown curls,with hints of blonde, and Jenna tossed them back from her face. Her clothing, a pretty pink dress at odds with her worn shoes, also flowed beautifully. Pieces of her fabric rippled gracefully around her.
The joy that managed to fill Jenna was refreshing and clear. No worry about her injuries plagued her mind. Not a single care about the things that had angered her earlier today surfaced in her thought. And most of all, gone was the fear of failure that had marred her previous attempts. Her freedom was complete.
But it appeared her flight would not be permanent. The world finally stopped pushing away from her, and her descent began. The slight disappointment at this turn of events was quickly squashed, Jenna had already determined how to deal with this turn of events. If she wasn’t careful, it would be goodbye to those she had met, and if her meeting with the ground was disastrous, she might not get the opportunity to try again for a very long time. The timing was crucial.
Jenna brought her arms out to her side, she new balance would be key. She couldn’t see her feet, obscured by the dress which had ballooned outward from her. The girl would need to rely on her memory. She had prepared for this moment in her mind hundreds of times.
The ground came rushing to meet her, clearly missing her company, and the moment of truth was at hand. Everything suddenly was a rush of activity. Her arms reached out, and her torso bent to keep her from crashing face first. Legs were tensing to prepare for the impact, and as her feet touched the ground, bits of rock were sent flying. She managed to stay upright, she had her balance again. When everything had settled around Jenna, she looked around and smiled broadly.
Jenna waved at her mother, and ran back to her swing, ready to do it all again.
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