“Come on Stela, you’ll be fine. I won’t even go that fast,” Deven said with an assuring smile.

I nervously fidget with my fingers, glancing at Deven’s motorbike.

Deven picks up a helmet. “You can wear this to be more comfortable.”

_Should I do it? _

“You promise to be careful?” I ask in a shaken voice.

“Yes, now let’s go,” Deven laughs, throwing me a helmet.

I drop the helmet, but put it on despite my nervousness.

I wrap my hands around Deven and the motor sounds.

“Let’s get this show on the road!” Deven shouts.

And then we’re on the road, zipping down the street.

The wind pierces my eyes.

We’re going too fast.

“Deven” I yell, “slow down!”

“Have some fun, Stela!”

He turns corners sharp; I strength my grip.

My hands get sweatier and sweatier.

Slowly my grip diminishes.

There’s another turn ahead.

“Deven slow down, I’m losing my grip!” I shout scared.

I start to shake.

I turn my head to see another motorbike behind us, far in the distance, too far for help.

Tears of fear began to fall. “Please Deven!”

The turn approaches closer. Deven only speeds up.

My hands grow tired from the tension.

The turn arrives and Deven whips the motorbike, my hands slip.

Suddenly I’m flying in the air, unable to scream or cry.

Everything around me blurs. It’s as though time was in slow motion.

Certain death was inevitable.

I close my eyes, awaiting a death I never imagined.

My body falls, and warm, strong hands catch me.

My eyes still closed, I’m sure I’m in the hands of death.

But I open my eyes and find a tall, handsome man holding me in his arms.

I suddenly look around.

I am in a nearby field and in the hands of this mysterious guy.

“What-what, I’m surely dead aren’t I?” I gasp.

The man sets me down on the grass.

“No, you fell from your reckless friend’s bike, flew into the air. I got to you just time.”

I glance around and see a motorbike parked on the shoulder of the road.

“How is that even possible?” I laugh.

The man shrugs.

I look around to still find no sign of Deven.

Did he try to intentionally kill me?

“Your friend,” the man started, “is in jail for reckless driving.”

Jail?

How much time passed?

“I still don’t understand?”

How could I just have landed and Deven is already behind bars?

What?

“Time is a mystery,” the man said.