I'm alive to write this and I don't know how it's possible. I've reviewed the scenario in my mind a million times or more, both voluntarily, born of a macabre curiosity, and involuntarily, my subconscious spoon-feeding it to me like an ill-tasting pabulum. It plays on the movie-screen of my consciousness like some weird science-fiction cult thriller; my body tumbling, spinning, bouncing off rocks, ever downward in its relentless pursuit of proof that the gravitational theory is sound. The Coast Guard says the fall was between 200 and 400 feet, I say the fall was an immeasurable distance; 1/10000 of an inch short of death. I remember every moment, every event-within-the-event as though I had studied diligently and tirelessly for a very important exam, every minute detail crisp and clear, as though it were outside of me, right next to me, happening while I intensely scrutinized the details of the occurrence. The time which transpired from the moment the ground began to slip from beneath me to the instant I was able to draw enough breath into my lungs to shout to Cyd to find another way down could not have been more than ten or twelve seconds, and yet, that same space of time held my eternity within it.

At the lip of a ridge, our last obstacle before reaching the rocky beach below, I began to kick loose some rocks to see if it would be possible to "skeet" to the beach. I needed to determine whether the rocks slid or bounced, and if they made noise like they were falling or rolling when they hit bottom. Suddenly the ground beneath me gave way. I immediately lay flat on my back, dug in my heels, and spread my arms wide, hoping to slow my descent. As soon as I realized this effort was futile, I turned on my side and shouted "I love you" to Cyd. As soon as the last word left my lips, my feet left the slope and I was propelled against a vertical rock wall and began my tumbling fall.

I tried to shout a warning, but only managed a screaming moan, then another, then I was done; I was sitting upright at the bottom of the cliff. Adding injurious insult to insulting injury, a rock larger than a bowling ball hit me on the top of the skull, laying back my scalp and forcing yet another scream to escape my lips. I feared that Cyd may try to follow and forced myself to take several deep breaths and yelled up to her to find the other way down. I heard her voice, but my ears were filled with blood and I couldn't make out her words, and I shouted again for her to find the other way down. I again heard her shout something that sounded like "I'm coming Baby, it'll be a while" before my vision started to blur. I had spun completely around and had turned a full 360 degrees during my fall. I landed on my backside, with my right leg beneath me, in a sitting position. Had I landed on my head, face, or back, the tale would probably be decidedly different. I'm beginning to believe that luck is a tangible force, or maybe there is a God; not much else could explain it to my satisfaction.

I shook my head to clear my vision, a shock of pain rippled through my body, beginning and ending I know not where. I somehow knew that to lose consciousness would mean dying right there, and I needed to stay alive long enough to get Cyd safely on her way back to town. I believed that she would lay down and die with me If she found me dead.

I took stock of my physical state, ascertaining that I had severely sprained or broken my right ankle, broke or dislocated my left thumb, broke or severely bruised several ribs, and suffered multiple lacerations, abrasions, and contusions. I was also coughing up blood, leading me to believe I had pierced a lung. I forced myself to a standing position and slowly, painfully, made my way to a vantage point where I could hopefully observe Cyd's safe descent. It was important to me that when she saw me again, I would be standing, giving the illusion of being okay. It was also important for me to see her for what I thought may be the last time. I leaned against a fallen tree and looked toward the rocks where she should appear, and was treated to the glorious and soul-warming sight of my beautiful wife. She was waving to me from the "v" of two large boulders several yards away. I shouted to her to be careful and again shouted to her that I loved her. She gave me a brave smile, another wave, blew me a kiss, then disappeared from sight. I began crying tears of mixed relief and apprehension, and leaned fully against the tree, waiting for my maid in shining armor to come rescue me.

She appeared, unhurt but frazzled half an hour later, and after a few minutes of assuring her I would live, she swallowed her fear and bravely set out on an arduous trek to bring me help. Six hours later, I was rescued by the Coast Guard. I spent those hours alone on the beach remembering the times Cyd and I had shared and making my peace with the Universe. I was fully prepared for death, and thought that my death would occur before help could arrive. Had I died on that lonely stretch of Oregon coast, I would have died a fulfilled man. I would have died knowing the love of a good woman. I would have died knowing I had spent five years with my soul mate. I would have died happy.

Cyd is the true hero of this story, and the rest of the story is hers to tell at another time. I want the world to know she is my soul mate, my wife, my friend, and above all, my hero. I love you Cyd, thank you for my life.

Jef Peace