She was cycling after months of staying indoors. The incident had left her scared, lonely, and depressed. But that morning, something got her outside—an unknown feeling that something good was about to happen. She hesitated before going out, but after looking at the house and remembering her recent times, she took a deep breath and stepped out.
The color of the sky seemed bluer, and the sun shone brighter. Her heart pumped hope and excitement through her entire body. Were the dark days over? She didn’t know. But she did know that just because something bad had happened to her, she shouldn’t remain afraid forever.
As she was cycling along her usual route, she saw an old man waving at her. A strange anxiety washed over her, and she didn’t know what to do. She froze. She turned around to go back. But finally, she overcame her fear and rode toward the man.
As she approached, the image became clearer. She realized that he wasn’t an old man, nor a stranger. His face was familiar, though she didn’t recognize him at once. Who was he? His bushy beard covered most of his face, but his bright eyes looked at her with kindness and warmth. He called her name, and at that moment, she recognized him.
He was a boy she had known from her neighborhood. She hadn’t seen him in years. She remembered him as a shy, quiet person. They started talking, and she noticed how delightful and confident he had become. After locking herself at home because of the disturbing incident, this was the first time she had communicated with someone outside the house—and it was a good experience.
She came back home with a stronger heart.
