Precipice

by B. Hernandez-Baralt

It was mid-May and the weather was brisk and chilled, with a tantalizing wind that caught Melody’s breath in mid-inhale. The horizon showed no end in sight while the sea beneath the large Ocean Blue ship liner torpedoed effortlessly, severing the massive waves below.

Melody recalled months ago when her parents asked her where she wanted to go on vacation, her mind immediately thought of Alaska. The Last Frontier, with its monstrous glaciers, and magnificent wildlife was a stark contrast to the humid, flat lands of Florida. It did not disappoint and was much more invigorating than the pictures she had seen in books.  Not only would she be able to see the marvelous large state but set her eyes on the beauty of the icy sea. The sea reminded her of fond memories growing up in Florida enjoying day trips to the beach, lounging lazily on the sand with ham and cheese sandwiches in hand, building sandcastles that looked more like moats, collecting seashells along the shoreline, and playing in the water without a care in the world.

She had been looking forward to the trip with her parents, Phee and Leo, but not for the reasons a person may suspect. For, Phee and Leo, however, the cruise had been a long-awaited vacation that was sure to revitalize them.

Melody’s eyes shifted from sea to sky, pondering her life as the breeze swept across her face and tussled her hair with vengeance. She glanced casually at her father who was lounging on a white Adirondack chair, sporting his Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a pink concoction in hand.

The love and gratitude Melody had for her parents was immeasurable. She knew the past few years had not been easy since her diagnosis. It had been an unusually cool autumn day, even by Florida standards, when her 17-year-old self and Phee sat with the renowned neurologist after months of a battery of testing. The doctor shifted into his chair, uneasy, and cleared his throat several times as he delivered the prognosis. To Melody, the words held no meaning, while her mother let out an indescribable sound that created an unsettling feeling of anxiety within her. A feeling that would become intertwined with every fiber of Melody’s being from that moment forward.   

Melody visualized what lay underneath the sea waves. She imagined sharks swimming through the obscure vastness while an octopus burrowed in between tight crevasses amongst colorful, oddly shaped coral reefs.

She turned her gaze to the sky and tried to visualize the unseen. The promise of a majestic, invisible kingdom nestled between clouds and watercolors of a blue hue, while the sun cast its rays upon the limitless city of gold.

Instinctively, Melody propped herself up on the ship’s rails, gripping tightly while she rocked on her heels and arched herself forward. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Life beckoned her. But just not the life she had known it to be until that moment. A different kind of life called to her. One free of pain. Not only from the pain that she felt due to her illness, but because of the pain that she saw in her parents’ eyes when they looked at her.

Phee and Leo adored their daughter and lived their days with her like on borrowed time, knowing she would soon be taken from them. The walks on the beach, the hours at dinner and movie, thrills at a theme park, elaborate theater dramas, or simple quiet times at home were moments carefully treasured, as if little nuggets of gold, pearls, and diamonds in a delicate glass box.

“Melody, be careful!” Leo yelled.

Startled, Melody lost her grip and balance, tumbling over the rails with flailing arms and legs into the icy ocean below.

Although Melody was a strong swimmer, the sickness had taken a toll on her feeble body, and the fierce water cocooned her as if she been a missile falling from great heights. At the moment of impact, Melody watched in stunned disbelief as the ocean split apart before her, much like the Red Sea had for Moses while Pharaoh's army closed in behind him. Instead of crashing into the water, she drifted downward and landed gently upon the ocean floor. How it had happened was beyond her understanding.

Her heart pounded as she slowly turned in a circle. Schools of fish hung suspended behind towering walls of water on either side, yet not a single drop touched her. Then a brilliant light pierced the opening high above. It descended from the heavens, growing brighter with every passing second until she had to shield her eyes. When it finally reached her, the radiance wrapped around her body, surrounding her in a comforting warmth that felt less like light and more like being embraced beneath the softest blanket imaginable.

Instantly, the pain that had been inside her for months was gone. It was as if her body had been rid of the sickness that had for so long tormented her. A sense of strength and peace ripped through her, from head to toe. Instinctually, she raised her arms towards the light, yet she did not budge. From the corner of her eye, she saw movement from within the sea that encircled her. Cautiously, she made her way when she saw her mother and father’s face, reaching for her, from within the water. Leo and Phee mouthed her name, repeatedly, with desperate faces and outstretched arms.

Melody touched the water barricade between her and her parents. This was the moment of no return. She could go and release her parents from the burden of her care, she could be free of the arduous, relentless treatments and hospital visits. Tears cascaded down Melody’s face as she stood paralyzed with indecision. The light from above her grew narrower while the ocean walls began to close in, forming a tunnel. Thoughts of self-pity eroded Melody’s mind, thinking she was too young to make such an important decision. Suddenly, she received her answer. Clear as day. It was not up to her. It never had been.

She closed her eyes as she reached through the water wall towards her parents. A sudden pressure consumed her, and she felt the weight of her body again. Taking a deep breath, she gagged on water that had filled her lungs. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced around her. Her father was sitting eagerly next to her, tears cascading down his cheeks, while three of her unknown rescuers stared expectantly at her in the small, orange craft. Voices and screams from the ship above caught Melody’s attention.

She looked up and saw several people gawking her way. Among the crowd, she saw her beautiful mother, grasping her hands and waving hysterically at her. Phee was screaming things to her daughter, that she couldn’t make out from below. But it didn’t matter. Phee’s expression of relief and excitement said a thousand words. Glancing back at her father, who was now clasping his hands, sat beside her drenched wet with salt water. Leo had jumped in after her without hesitation when he saw his daughter fall overboard.

Shaking as she tried to sit herself up, Melody stared up at the sky trying to recall what she had just seen. The stunning bright light from above, the ground sea floor, the tunnel of water surrounding her, and the terrible precipice of the end or maybe, the beginning of her life. Unsure of what to make of it, she shuddered at how cold she was, but she was grateful. Grateful for the aches and pains, grateful for her lovely, unwavering parents, grateful… that the decision had not been hers to make.

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