“Concentrate, I’ve got to focus!”
One-hundred-fifty feet – my struggle has
now become a test of mental clarity as well as physical
strength. My thinking is unclear. My arms are beginning to
fatigue. Perspiration breaks out on my head and neck. Short of
breath, I am starting to panic. My twisting back and forth
becomes violent. I can’t get out!
One-hundred-eighty feet – my enraged
twisting yields a positive result as at last the sleeves gain
some slack. With the extra space comes the ability to take a
full breath and the sense that I’ll be okay. I just need to
force my shoulder out of place for a moment. Pressing my right
shoulder fiercely against the restraint, I feel a pop that goes
along with a sharp, but temporary pain, “Aaarrrgh!!”
For a moment my shoulder is slightly separated; however, I now
have the necessary room to get one arm out of its sleeve. A
heavy sigh of relief – just a few more seconds and I’ll
be out.
Two-hundred feet in the air – my arms are
almost free; another distinct snap – not my shoulders this
time. A burning ember brushes my cheek on its way down. I gaze
up. Time stands still for a moment. In horror, I watch as the
rope separates. The small end of the burning rope, still
attached to the crane, makes a flip skyward as if waving
good-bye. The top of the crane pulls rapidly away from me.
“Oh my God! The rope is broken!”
I feel the sudden rush of momentum –
downward. A terrifying falling feeling envelops me. The pavement
races up to meet me head on. The crowd is screaming.
I scream, “Aaaaaaggggghhhhhh!”
Falling, falling … I close my eyes … falling.
With the sudden lurch of the mattress beneath
me, I practically felt myself hit the bed, waking up drenched in
a cold sweat. Confused and lost for a moment, there in the
darkness of my own bedroom, I could almost hear the faint echo
of my own scream. But, as my eyes adjusted to the moonlight
filtering through the blinds, I slowly regained my bearings and
composure, realizing that it was all simply a bad dream.
