I tell myself I’ll only be gone 15 minutes, 20 tops.  I glance at the clock.  The bright red text reads 2:37 AM, daring me to leave the comfort of my room.  Quickly, I stuff my pillows under my sheets and grab my backpack.  Doing a once-over, I slide my window up and climb outside.  I rush to my bike and ride out the the end of my driveway.  Now or never, I think.  With a deep breath, I push off the pedal and bike onto the road.
The wind whips my hair around as I’m flying down the street, the cold bites my nose and ears.  Never have I been more reckless, but never have I been more free.  I curve down a hill and I can feel myself going faster, and faster, and faster, and faster.  The world blurs by around me, and my eyes are watering.  I can faintly recall the outline of the warm orange light radiating from the street lamps.  For a second- just for a second- I close my eyes, truly feeling the impurities of the road under my bike.  When I open my eyes, light.  Headlights.  I hear a horn honk from somewhere in the distance, like I’m hearing the world from under water.  I subconsciously swerve the handles to the side, while my brain is still trying to catch up.
Before I know it, I flip over my bike and land on my back.  The world is swaying, and my eyes are flashing with blinding light.  I try to focus on something, but there's nothing to focus on.  I just wanted to feel something, I tell myself.  I just wanted for once in my life to feel alive.  It seems that time went by, but I can’t tell.  Slowly, my vision returns to normal, and I can see the sky, which is still dark, thankfully.  My head is still foggy, and there's an acute pain somewhere, maybe in my ribs, I don’t know.  I sigh, and I give up trying to think.  I can’t help but notice the stars.  If I concentrate hard enough I can make out some constellations.  There, Orion and his fancy belt.  The Little Dipper, I always loved that one.  I lied there until morning, watching the stars fade away and streaks of light grow until the sun peaked on the horizon.  At least I found what I was looking for, I realized.  With a stupid grin on my face, I closed my eyes, and finally felt my body settle.