Name: Eyesha Sadiq Column Writing

I had to hurry because I was losing time. I had my exercise clothes, my bike, but I was
missing something. I looked everywhere for it and I just couldn't figure out where it was. I only
had a few minutes before I had to leave and I never found it, so I left.
I went with my sister and her friend up the brick hill. My heart started pounding in my
throat, my legs began to feel weak, and I felt shaky with every step I took.
I can’t do this. I can’t go down this hill.
My sister went first. Her body went up and down as she passed each brick. Then my
sister’s friend went and her body did the same. Now it was my turn. My 4 year old body got on
my bike and I started to pedal. With no training wheels in the back for the first time, I started to
go down the hill.
There was one issue. My body didn’t go up and down in a smooth motion, like my sisters
did. My body went out of control. I didn’t know how to steer. I couldn’t grab the handles and
there was not enough time to hold the breaks.
That's when I fell.
My head hit the brick hill with full force, my bike left my side, and my eyes closed. I woke
up in the hospital and I was confused as to why my mom was crying. I looked around the room
and saw my sister, her friend, my dad, grandma, etc. I asked what had happened, and I was told
my face slammed into the hill, my head was bruised, my knees were scraped, and my lips were
busted.
I came home that day from the hospital, as my pain started to lessen. I knew I wasn’t
going to be able to ride my bike without training wheels for a long time now but there was one
question I kept getting asked.
“Why didn’t you wear a helmet?”