On my way home, I saw a car hit a motorcycle from behind and throw the rider about 25 feet into the air, landing him in a ditch. I called 911 right away, pulled over, and climbed down to stay with him until help came. He wasn’t moving, and I feared the worst.
Luckily, a medical professional was driving by and stopped to help too. I held Joe’s hand and talked to him to keep him awake. He told me about his wife, made jokes about his motorcycle, and asked me to take pictures so he would have a cool story to tell.
When the ambulance arrived, I stepped back. A woman watching said, “I’m shocked you did all that.” I looked confused, so she said, “Honey, this is the South. I’m just saying, I’m shocked you did all that for him.” My heart sank. I was speechless. I didn’t care what he looked like. I didn’t care how long I had to wait. I didn’t care about social distancing. He needed help.
We don’t have to look the same to be kind to each other. No one is born hating others because of race, politics, or where they come from. People learn to hate. One of my favorite quotes is from Nelson Mandela: “If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.” Love everyone, including yourself. Humanity is my race, and love has no limits.
Credit: Hannah Elizabeth Vieira
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