For a minute, I can forget my woes and worries. Forget all that is ruining my sanity of late. If only life could feel like this all the time, breaking free of the shackles and chains so I can finally take a deep inhale as it's all left behind. In control of my surroundings, my pressure on a pedal, only the road ahead of me, which is clear and leads wherever I want it to go, suddenly tears fill my eyes, and I choke.

"I'm not happy." It comes out in a sharp confession all on its own, like an inner voice that can no longer be silenced. "I hate...