there is so much language around falling...
falling in love
falling for
having a falling out
getting dumped
...just fell into it
falling apart
falling is said to be the only unlearned fear

our reaction to falling has several stages -
later in development the opening reaction gets overridden and we go straight to the startle response (flexion/adduction) but it is still very present in our nervous systems.

in falling we open to be held -
and then we close -
to protect the head in case of impact, and if there is a 'caring presence' - to embrace
the embrace is where we feel met and the opening into falling finds completion