Heights

by Kayleen Pacheco 

“Better safe than sorry”
I have always stuck to this
No matter my age.

When I was 7
I would never jump off
The pretend frightful,
Fragile cliffs
Surrounded by wispy,
White clouds 
My friends and I imagined.

We imagined
That foxes were chasing us,
Through the dark woods.
The only way to safety
Was taking a leap of faith,
Down the cliff.
Funny I know,
We were 7.

In reality, we were
Jumping off 
A big, solid, bulky,
Gray rock,
Buried on a small,
Green grassy hill,
Just enough height 
For our imaginations
To go wild.

I can still hear their 
Little voices
Running and cheering
Me on, 
“C’mon Kayleen, 
Jump, You got this!”

Truth be told
I was actually 
Afraid of heights.