Friends, Bravery, and Confidence

My motorcycle gave me certain powers that I needed. I became addicted, and I needed it to survive. So I rode as long as I could every single day.

BikeFam. When riding, you easily make friends. You already have the bikes in common, and all you have to do is ride together, and BAM, you're friends for life.

Helmet confidence. The biker helmet was my shield. I walked down the college hallways to class in my biker boots and jacket. After getting to campus on my bike, I had the most confident walk. It felt like the people were parting like the Red Sea for me. I was powerful.

Bravery. I used to be terrified to drive anywhere. even needed the maps open just to get to the grocery store. If I made a wrong turn, I was shaking. But I began riding and loved taking wrong turns. I learned the area and found new beautiful roads.

After the accident, it was taken from me. The ability to ride, the friends, the confident walk, all gone. I was cold-turkey cut off from riding. I began losing friends. I was stuck in a wheelchair. I thought that if I could just get back on, everything would get better. I would be able to walk again like nothing ever happened. The scars would fade to nothing, and my friends would all come back. But two years have gone by, and none of that happened, even after I got back on the bike.

I am beginning to realize that the bike didn't give me the friends, the bravery, or the confidence. I am realizing was a good, high-spirited person. People tend to gravitate towards high-spirited people. I used to be terrified of driving before I began to ride, but it was because the car I had was one cough away from the graveyard. The confidence I thought I got from the bike, I had it in me already. I just needed something to bring it out. I don't miss the bike anymore. I don't need the bike anymore. I'm free.