Falling Into Grace

He had jumped 28 times before, exhilarated by the panoramic view. Why should this jump be any different? But it was. First, there was no familiar tug when the canopy should have billowed out. Next, all he could see over his head was empty sky: no canopy catching air against the clouds. Based on his training, he pulled on the reserve chute. It was stuck, and stuck tight. The ground was racing up to meet him, and he knew he was about to die.