As I craned my neck to look up at the ride from my place in line, my eyes widened with fear. While everyone around me eagerly moved down the line, I reluctantly inched closer and closer to my fate: the Hellevator that was awaiting me.
As soon as I sat down, I asked the attendant if it was too late to chicken out. After deciding to tough it out (and tying my shoes twice), I silently accepted my fate, took some deep breaths, and waited.
Soon enough, we were flying. Travelling at 75 km/h, the boost of adrenaline was unlike anything I’d experienced before. Up, down, up, down. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I blacked out until we raced up again for a much-needed pause.
At last, my heart calmed at the sight of the dark Vancouver sky lit up by a mural of bright lights, and the feeling of the cool breeze blowing through my hair. It was as if my problems and responsibilities were temporarily abandoned as I sat high above the rest of the world.
Even after the heart-racing plummet back down to earth, I can confidently say that the view was worth the fear.
