On the edge of the cliff, she had only a second to decide. In only a moment, the other initiates would be upon her. Sabrie didn’t exactly want an audience if this failed; but the fear still curdled in her stomach whenever she thought about attempting the jump anyway.
Voices shouted through the trees. Each one piqued with excitement as the other initiates spotted the grassy patch before the cliff’s edge.
Sabrie tightened her grip on the broom. Now or never—it’s now or never, Brie—come on—
The instructors had picked this spot for the flight portion of the test specifically because the fall wouldn’t be fatal. It was only about thirty feet to the bottom, where a deep wash of water waited to cushion any unlucky students.
Brush rustled behind Sabrie as the other kids pushed aside the branches at the edge of the forest. In less than a second, they would be upon her.
It’s now or never…
A hot prickle of potential embarrassment shot through Sabrie’s stomach. She lurched forward, her feet pounding across the grass for only a few steps before they met the open air.
She’d practiced the moves a thousand times before—lift her leg, sling the broom beneath it, wrap her ankles together, then tighten her hands one above the other, not too far that she’d have to bend forward uncomfortably.
It’s just me and you, broom. I believe in you—if you’ll believe in me too.
The broom, as an inanimate object is wont to do, did not respond.
The beginnings of a free fall tingled in Sabrie’s gut. She tried not to focus on the feeling of plummeting, nor the cold and wet cascade waiting for her below. Instead, she pictured the sensation of the broom nestled firmly beneath her body, ferrying her up into the sky. She imagined what it would look like to watch the ocean curve away beneath her, falling gradually lower as she dared to soar up higher.
She ignored what she actually felt, plunking herself stubbornly within the scene in her imagination. It’s already happening, she told herself. There’s nothing to worry about.
A warm prickle swept across the broom.
It’s already happening. There’s nothing to worry about.
The wind began to tug backwards at Sabrie’s braids, streaming cool past her face and flapping at her dress.
It’s already happening. There’s nothing to worry about.
Screams of surprise and delight sounded behind the girl.
Without a thought to spare to worry, Sabrie glanced behind her, where the other initiates had piled up at the edge of the cliff.
A few of the others had made the jump, dotted like clumsy birds in the air behind her. Those who had yet to try waved and hollered, encouraging their classmates on.
Sabrie grinned, feeling a braid slap against her face as she turned back to face forward. Her fears dissolved as if they’d never even been there, unspooling until there was nothing inside her but a buoyant relief as warm and golden as the sunshine sparkling on the water below.
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