“You don’t have to cut the trip short, Martha,” Lorna said, breaking the silence. “Stay a few more days.
We’ll rest, take it easy. You deserve that.”
Nora frowned. “We’ve done enough.
Martha’s fulfilling her husband’s wish, you met Roger, but what about me? What have I done that’s bold or life-changing on this trip? Nothing.”
“That’s not fair,” Lorna snapped.
“We’ve all been through a lot. Maybe instead of blaming us, you should ask yourself why you’re holding back.”
Nora’s face reddened. “Holding back?
Do you know what it’s like to always be the one people depend on? To never have a moment for yourself because your whole life is about everyone else?”
“And do you know what it’s like to be completely alone?” Lorna shot back. “No one to depend on, no one waiting for you at home.
It’s easy to criticize when you’re surrounded by family, even if they’re ungrateful.”
“Ungrateful? My family takes me for granted every single day!” Nora’s voice rose. She slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups rattle.
“Enough!” I said.
The room fell silent.
Then Lorna stood abruptly.
“This is pointless,” she muttered. “I’m going to bed.”
Nora followed suit, slamming the door behind her.
That night, each of us retreated to our corners, the cracks in our friendship feeling deeper than ever. For the first time, I wondered if this trip had been a mistake.
***
The next morning, Lorna and I sat down for breakfast in the motel’s small dining area.
The aroma of coffee mixed with the faint scent of the ocean breeze drifting in through the open windows. I poured myself a cup, savoring the warmth, and glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Where’s Nora?” I asked, stirring cream into my cup. “She’s usually the first one down.”
Lorna shrugged, buttering her toast.
“Maybe she’s sleeping in. Yesterday wasn’t exactly restful.”
We ate in companionable silence for a while, but as time passed, unease crept in. Lorna’s eyes darted toward the window.
“Oh, God!
The convertible is gone! You know, I’ll feel better if we check on her.”
I nodded, setting my coffee down. We hurried to the front desk.
“Excuse me,” Lorna said to the receptionist.
“Do you know where our friend Nora went? She was staying in Room 12.”
The young woman behind the desk looked up from her computer.
“Oh, yes, she checked out early this morning. She mentioned something about paragliding.
There’s a nearby site that’s quite popular. She took one of our brochures.”
“Paragliding?” I repeated. “Alone?”
Lorna exchanged a glance with me, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“I’ll call Roger. We need a ride.”
Roger arrived within twenty minutes, his car kicking up a small cloud of dust as it pulled into the lot.
“Morning, ladies,” he greeted with a grin, though his expression turned serious when he saw our faces. “What’s going on?”
“Nora’s decided to go paragliding,” Lorna explained, sliding into the passenger seat.
“We need to stop her before she does something reckless.”
The drive was tense. I wrung my hands, muttering under my breath. “Paragliding.
What on earth is she thinking? She’s not exactly an adrenaline junkie.”
“Maybe this is her way of breaking free,” Roger offered, keeping his eyes on the road.
When we arrived, we spotted her immediately. Nora stood on the edge of the launch platform, the bright straps of her harness standing out against the sky.
The wind whipped her hair as she stared out over the ocean, her expression calm but resolute.
“Nora!” I called, rushing toward her. “What are you doing?”
She turned slowly, a small smile on her lips. “Something for myself,” she said simply.
“But this is dangerous!” I protested.
“You’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Exactly. I’ve spent my whole life playing it safe. I need this.”
Lorna stepped forward.
“If you’re doing it, so are we.”
Nora raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
I stared at Lorna, aghast. “You can’t be serious.”
Lorna grinned.
“If we’re going to take risks, let’s do it together.”
Before I knew it, we were all strapped into harnesses. My heart pounded as our instructors led us to the edge of the platform. The ocean stretched out before us, vast and endless.
The experience was exhilarating.
The wind roared past my ears as we soared above the cliffs, the ocean sparkling beneath us. For a few minutes, all my fears melted away, replaced by pure, unfiltered joy.
When we landed, our legs wobbled, and our laughter was uncontrollable. Nora’s eyes sparkled with newfound confidence.
“I’ve never felt anything like that,” she said, breathless.
Later, we stood on the shore, the waves lapping at our feet.
I opened the urn, the ashes scattering into the wind. That moment felt sacred, a perfect goodbye.
“Goodbye, my love,” I whispered. “And thank you, my girls.
It was unforgettable.”
The drive back was filled with reflection. We had come on that trip searching for something, and somehow, in the chaos and adventure, we had found it.
Nora returned home with a renewed spirit. She finally stood up to her family, carving out time to pursue her lifelong dream of painting.
Lorna embraced love and laughter, with Roger becoming her partner both on and off the dance floor.
Their impromptu moves turned into countless joyful moments.
As for me, I chose to live boldly, volunteering at the library and sharing our story. Our paragliding jump became a promise to never postpone our dreams again.
Life wasn’t over. It was just beginning.
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It might inspire them and brighten their day.
Source: amomama
