The Leap | Teen Ink

The Leap

November 30, 2008
By Anonymous

As I stood precariously at the edge of the giant rock that jutted out over the lake a cool breeze whispered through the trees making the leaves rustle and sending a spasm of goose bumps across my skin. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. I could hear shouts and splashing as several of my friends took the dive before me, but still I did not dare open my eyes. Soon the voices of my friends became distant and I assumed I was now alone on the top of the rock. The only one too afraid to take the plunge into the water below. I felt a hand on my arm and opened my eyes, blinking in surprise. My gaze went directly to where the hand was in contact with my skin and slowly followed the crevices of the arm up to the shoulder and finally the face, which I recognized as Nathan’s. He stood beside me not saying a word, just staring at me with those same blue eyes whose gaze I’d had such a hard time breaking the very first time I’d met him.

Nathan had reached out his hand to shake mine and our eyes locked as he introduced himself. I was transfixed by the crystal blue hue of his eyes and the sense that he was confiding something in me through his intense stare. He was all I had been able to think about the rest of the day. The fact that after such a brief exchange he was able to have such a complete hold on me frightened me. Nathan quickly became an important link in my circle friends, but I held back from getting close to him, afraid of the way he made me feel. The idea of love was terrifying to me. My parents had seemed to have the perfect storybook romance and marriage until they suddenly divorced when I was nine, leaving me with a fear of becoming too close to anyone. I didn’t want to think I could share so much with some one just to have them leave me.

Now he reached down and took my hand as he led me to the edge of the rock I had subconsciously backed away from. He squeezed my hand and I was finally able to understand what he had been saying with the look that had sent tingles down my spine on that first day, and the same one he was giving me now. His brow furrowed and eyes locked on mine, warm and unblinking. It was his way of saying “I won’t let you go”. I took one last deep breath, squeezed his hand in return and we jumped from the rock hand in hand. As we were falling through the air, stomach in throat, I realized that love is all about taking a risk. You could always sink or swim, but you’ll never know until you try, you just have to take the leap.


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This article has 6 comments.


on Feb. 2 2012 at 11:29 am
mudnainah BRONZE, Barikville, Washington
3 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
it's not in everything that you find happiness, but in happiness you shall find everything.

I loved this story! Short, yet priceless =) Keep up the good work

on Oct. 15 2011 at 7:52 am
Christina... SILVER, Brockton, Massachusetts
6 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Real love doesn't have an happy ending; it surpasses eternity."♥♥♥

"I'm in love with being in love."

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream, a dream you dream together becomes reality."

"I'm not lost, just undiscovered"

nice...very nice. i love it... it's short but it is well written.

Aginger GOLD said...
on Oct. 28 2010 at 9:39 pm
Aginger GOLD, Bingen, Washington
11 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Why are you so busy trying to fit in when you were born to stand out?"

This is very good. The end made me smile; I love the idea of taking risks in love. Nice job

on Apr. 15 2010 at 8:28 pm
redsoxandsunshine SILVER, Hamilton, Massachusetts
8 articles 0 photos 24 comments
Hey, could you read my story "i wish i could fly"? It's weirdly similar... Except mine's a metaphor and not as good :)

mckena SILVER said...
on Jan. 15 2010 at 10:50 pm
mckena SILVER, Scottsdale, Arizona
5 articles 0 photos 4 comments
That was amazing i loved it!!!

on Oct. 19 2009 at 6:54 pm
This was absolutley amazing, and I couldn't have said it better myself. I could imagine the scene playing out before me with the descriptions that you gave. Very good.