Falling at odds (By Maija "DiamonDie" Haavisto)
There are worse ways to die than approaching the Earth at terminal velocity. Your falling speed stops accelerating after about 20 seconds. It's a beautiful planet when viewed from a distance, an intoxicating view. It seems rather unlikely that it would miss you in any way.
Of course, most of the time you don't actually die. An automatic device triggers the parachute even if you've forgotten about it. You float gently to the ground, out of breath and jizzing adrenaline, breaking a bone or two at most.
Sometimes neither happens. Your fall no longer accelerates and begins to slow down, until it halts completely. There you go, stuck in the midair somewhere in the lower troposphere. This is a good occasion to stretch all your cramped muscles and perhaps do a little jiggle. It's not like anyone is watching.
DiamonDie