"Jump"

This is my first time trying a link up so bear with me.  The challenge is Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday where you write for five minutes, no editing allowed.  Today's topic was "Jump".

***

"Jump!"

Standing at the edge of cold, wet concrete, the green water below looks so far down.  Countless others have done it before me, all successful, all safe and sound below.  No limbs broken.  Red marks from the slap of water acceptable wounds.

My heart is in my throat.  If I don't jump I'll look like a weenie.  That's the best word my seventh grade mind can come up with.  I'm a bit sheltered.  

"Jump!  Jump!"

The voices encouraging me bounce from wall to wall on the bridge.  The sound of cars overhead nearly drown them out.  A louder voice, one only I can hear insists that if I don't jump I won't be able to show my face again, I won't have a place among them, they won't be my friends.  As always I'll be on the outside of the circle, whispers of taunts floating around me, the words "weird" and "dork" echoing loud and clear...

"Jump!  Jump!"

I take a breath and step off into oblivion, the cool water shocking my senses as I plunge into the darkness.  I come up to cheers, to friends.  The voice is still there, still murmuring like the water lapping the concrete walls, but the other voices, solid and real, drown it out.