Oh S**t.

By Eric Frazer

            Here I am trying with all my might to hold on to this life saving branch. It seems like hours that I have been hanging here. My watch tells me that it’s only been five minutes; the longest five minutes in my soon to be over life.

            If only I had tightened my brakes this morning before setting out on my mountain-bike. Well, it’s to late now to be thinking about the past. There goes another one of those precious little stones helping to hold this tiny tree of survival onto the edge of the world that my life is clinging onto. Soon there will be no stones left and that will be the end.

            The earth looks spectacular from this height, with its beautiful yellow gardens and the occasional car driving by the fast flowing river. I see the tiny people looking up towards the top of the waterfall at my side. Every so often I think that I’ve been spotted by them, dangling here off this cliff. To the dots down below, this vast mountain must seem gigantic. If only I hadn’t hit that loose rock on the track then I wouldn’t be were I am now. As I look up, taking my attention away from the beautiful vastness below, I see the sea blue sky above with its fluffy cotton like clouds floating by. The sun now starts to look over the ledge above – as if I’m not sweating enough he comes along to join in on the fun!

            If only I had tried to save my own life rather than my bike. Jumping off it and pushing it away from the edge was not the right option. I could have been looking down at my smashed bike from above rather than it lying safely at the top of this cliff. If only…