A Short Story:New Horizons

Lightly, softly, sweeping past my cheek,
one kiss from the wind
soothes an everlasting urge within.
My head drifts into the clouds as I gaze toward the trees.
There, leaves hum, waltzing away from a branched home.
Parting away, without say,
reluctantly they soar,though all reunite soon.
Falling together,they'll create a shared,painted home that sugar-coats the forest floor.
Heart-warming sunlight shoots down through tree arms,gently dropping a finger before me
as if shoving me back,
out of the destined path,
to finish its job squeezing brightly woven webs into every visible nook.
I drop my head so the chin beneath
digs into a heart necklace wreath.
The glance down opens a realization of how closely my toes hug the hill's ninety degree edge.

I'm used to living on the edge.
I'm used to standing tall with my head held high.
I'm used to creating a concrete wall against the pressure of time and the unknown.
I'm used to living on the edge.
I'm not afraid.

And when the burning question of
"Where are you going?" arises,
I'll be ready,
ready to say,
"I'll find out when I get there."
My head plops down from the sky.
With eyes widened to a round,
I stare down.
The waltzing and routine movement below hasn't altered one bit.

Time to go.

I spin on my heels and take a deep breathe.
The heart inside jumps unknowingly.
I take one step: Right
Two steps: Left, Right
Continuing the pattern more briskly now, I lift my head and stare at the station wagon,
inching closer by the second.
Reaching for the handle,
I freeze-'Where to now? Is there anything to look forward to?'
            [[face burning]]
            'You're crazy!!!
            No money,home,family...
            What are you doing?!!?'

A cool rush of the once-friendly wind stops my breathing,
reminding me to stand tall, chin up, and move forward into the fog.

I force open the door and slide in.

Sitting, thinking, 'where are you going?'
I'm not afraid of the edge.
I'm not afraid of the unknown.
'Come on,think.Where are you going?'
I slip the key into the ignition and pull away from the hillside onto the main road.
Where?
Don't know.
Closing my eyes for a moment i think:
'Where to? Guess I'll find out when i get there.'

I open my eyes,
and in surprise,
the corner of my mouth rises slightly.

'I'm not afraid.'
"I'm not afraid!"

The words seeps through the windows
and a couple in a Cadillac spin their heads and lift a brow in unison.
With a giggle I roll down the window and sing out,
"The price to pay for living on the edge!"

'I wont' fall though...
I'll never fall...
I can't fall...
They'll never forgive me.Not in a lifetime.'