The wind shakes me wildly. Sweaty palms loosen my grip, but I clench with white knuckles. I pry my cheek from its flattened position against the leaf and look back to the exhausted stem. One more howling blow and I am ripped from the branch.
Whirling. Thrashing. Twisting. Turning. Every muscle in my body tightens as the wind hurls me backwards. I cling to the leaf, smothering it with my body. I fall into a spiraling descent and my stomach feels like it is wedged behind my lungs.

Nausea,

halted in suspension.

I peek over the green ledge. My pounding heart pushes my stomach back into place and I relax my fingers. I am floating delicately…like a swaying hammock…like a nomad leaf adrift in the warm breeze…where am I?