Hurricane Summer

• Published in: CM (Winnipeg) Vol. XXVII; no. 40
• Main Author: McMahon, Ruth
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Winnipeg CM: Canadian Review of Materials Association 01.06.2021
• ISSN: 1201-9364

Excerpt: It pretty, nuh true?!” I laugh, “Gorgeous.” A permanent grin is plastered across his face. “Welcome to Paradize.” He exaggerates a non-existent z, and I almost burst. My heart is so full. This is where I come from. I am born of these mountains. Of this calming water and sky. “Yuh ready?” Andre asks. “For what?” “Fi jump.” “WHAT?” I yell. My heart drops to my stomach. “Andre, Stop.” “How you expect fi get down?” I look at him speechless. “Come nuh. Mi do it all di time.” “Andre,” I say between my teeth. “No fucking way.” “It’s too slippery fi go down pon di rocks. We haffi jump.” I almost have an anxiety attack as my tears of adrenaline turn to dread. … Before I can object, we are flying off the rocks and through the sky. I am a bird. Soaring. Free. Whole. My heart flies out of my chest, stopping for what feels like an eternity. I scream for my life as gravity takes over, and I plunge feet first into the clear water below.