I walk towards the Storm Chaser at Adventureland. I visit this amusement park once a year with my family. It’s a tradition. We’ve done it for years, but every year I would stay away from one ride, the Storm Chaser. I’ve never had a fear of heights before. I love rollercoasters and have been riding them since I was little. I do have a theory for why I am so scared to ride the Storm Chaser, I don’t fear heights, but death.

Three years ago one boy died in the park and 3 were seriously injured. It was from a water ride, they closed it right after but nothing else was changed. Ever since that day I heard someone died there, I have been scared of every ride that seemed dangerous. Including this one that I am waiting in line right now to ride.

My legs shake and I watch as the ride shoots straight up. Each seat is separated from each other, it’s like a swing but way higher up. I know I shouldn’t be scared, kids younger than 10 are riding it no problem. I’m double their age! Why can’t I do what little kids can?

The line is long. It stretches out all the way to the street. There are 30 minutes left until the amusement park closes. I was secretly praying that the line would go slow and that we would just miss it.

Time ticked by and we got closer and closer to the entrance of the ride. It started to look like we weren’t going to make it. I was getting more relaxed as I came to the conclusion that we wouldn’t make it on in time. With 5 minutes left and 20 people in front of us, it was guaranteed that we wouldn’t make it, until 5 of them got out of line. All it took was one second for my nerves to come rushing back. I started to think of ways to not throw up. I would clench my jaw, not look down, and not scream.

The time finally came. As the last group of people climbed out of their seats, I put my hand on the gate to keep me from falling. I walk into the entrance gate and took a seat near the operator so he would make sure to buckle me in. I lower the bar as far as it would go and grip the plastic armrests. The operator comes to me first and locks me in.

The operator walks to the machine and starts the ride. My feet dangle 10 feet high, then 20, then 100. It felt like we were going up forever until we stopped. I couldn’t help but look down. At first I was scared, then I started looking around instead of just straight down and saw how beautiful everything looked up here. I saw everything, the water park, the rollercoasters, even the highway far away from the park. When we started moving in circles I felt the wind in my face. It felt great. The wind ran through my hair and I felt like I was flying. Until the bar lifted, and I fell out.