The Jump

The lights echoed down upon him. All the adversity he had overcome could all be justified in a matter of seconds.

Henry “the hawk” Isaacson was about to take a record-breaking ski jump in the 1992 Winter Olympics at a height of 230 meters.

He became a professional ski jumper as a testament to his father, Sam, who took the jump himself, and failed, leaving him in a coma to this day.

Henry visited his father’s hospital bed everyday. The family talked about saying goodbye when the doctors informed the family that it was unlikely Sam would wake up. But Henry never let go.

Henry taking the jump meant he could finally conquer his past. Taking the jump meant he could let go.

The wind wrestled through Henry’s hair that day. He was terrified, but he remembered the letters “S.I.” which were written across his skis. To Henry, the letters “S.I” represented two things.

His father, Sam Isaacson. His father reminded of him why he was jumping in the first place.

Henry stepped up to the ledge and got into starting position. This was it. He glanced down at his skis and remembered what else the letters “S.I.” meant to him. “Screw it!”

Henry knew that sometimes in life you have to face your fears to overcome them. Henry took the Jump and landed it! After, Henry drove back to his father’s hospital and placed the medal around his father’s neck. “You did it Dad.”