Meet John in this heartfelt story
John was a very lonely kid. He didn’t really talk to anyone or do anything. He didn’t feel the need to talk to people, because what would he gain out of it? Somebody else’s experiences? That isn’t fun.
On John’s twelfth birthday he got a bike. At first he didn’t give any attention to it. Then days passed and John wanted to do something, anything really, so went outside and looked at his bike. It was a red with blue patches; the seat was a deep blue and the handlebars were gripped with rubber; the tires were just the right size, perfect for dirt, grass, pavement, and road.
With this newfound appreciation for his bike, John went back inside and did some research on trails and forests near where he lived. He wanted to explore. He wanted to be like Finn from Adventure Time, always exploring and never bored.
John found this beautiful forest during his research. It was filled with deciduous and coniferous trees. The trails looked almost untouched. There was an abundance of bushes and shrubs. From what John could see on the image on his computer, it was perfect.
He told his parents that he was going out for a few hours; his parents were quite proud and a little surprised. It was the first time John was actually going to do something, other than sit in his room doing nothing. John packed a small drawstring bag with snacks and water. He had no idea what to expect, but his heart was racing.
John struggled to get on his bike. He almost never rode it. With sheer determination - and a few falls and tumbles- he managed to get on his bike. The bike was a little wobbly when he first started to pedal, but John knew it would all be worth it in the end.
After the wind rushed at John’s face, he realized how much he actually loved to ride his bike. He reminded himself to make a habit out of exploring and biking.
He soon reached the forest. It was much larger in person. John thought it looked like the world's most intimidating salad. Of course he wasn’t going to eat the leaves, but then again, John does not go out much. He got off his bike and made his way through the thicket.
As he walked, the weeds and vines would grab at his ankles, nearly tripping him every time. The path was almost hidden by the overgrown bushes; John would constantly get hit in the face with branches. There were sticks and leaves getting stuck in the gears and wheels of the bike, but John didn’t care; his adrenaline was pumping and he was determined to explore the forest to the best of his abilities.
John reached a fork in the road. He heard water rushing from one path and dead silence from the other one. He decided to go towards the water, as though the silence was very eerie to him. Oddly enough, the path going to the water was much clearer. John was just happy that he didn’t have to get smacked in the face with branches anymore.
He finally got the place where the water was coming from. It was a beautiful stream with the roundest rocks he had ever seen. At the bottom of the stream there were stones that were perfect for skipping. John plunged his hand into the ice cold water and grabbed the flattest rock he could find. He skipped it as best as he could. It didn’t go far but he did. John found something that made him less alone...
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