Soon, the cool breeze brushes over my skin. My hair and my T-shirt flutter backward. I steer the Vespa onto the entrance road. In the rearview mirror, I see Vico following me on the other scooter. He gives me a thumbs-up.
Everything is fine, he wants to tell me with that gesture.
And he is absolutely right. It's going well. It feels good. It is good.
I turn onto the smooth country road. It lies straight before me, without potholes or bumps.
It's time. Here we go.
Confidently, I twist the throttle, the engine beneath me roars, and a few seconds later, I'm seized by a rush so powerful that I can't resist. My smile widens, and a strong sensation fills my chest. It's as if I can breathe properly for the first time.
I let out a joyous cry. I cheer, soaking in the freedom, scaling the walls of fear, and glimpsing the world that opens up beyond.
Golden rays break through the cloud cover, the scent of deep violet lavender fields now in bloom permeates me. The wind cools my heated skin, and the motor's vibrations send tingles through my body. I savor every second.
I let go of my worries. And nothing has ever felt like this before.
The world around me spins. Shimmering dots dance before my eyes. More and more of them appear in my field of vision, each carrying the colors of the rainbow.
Suddenly, I can barely see anything else but the iridescent spots. My senses shut down one by one. I forget which way is up or down; I no longer smell or taste anything.
My jubilation turns into a shrill scream. The scooter sways like a ship on stormy seas.
In panic, I clutch the handlebars tightly.
The world turns blue-gray.
Like storm clouds.
They're everywhere.
A bright bolt of lightning flashes. It rushes toward me.
And eventually strikes me right in the head.
A scorching heat runs through my body. My hands burst into flames and can no longer hold the handlebars.
Thunder roars deafeningly.
Then a dark silence engulfs me.
