12/23/2025
đŚ The biker had just started pumping gas into the crying girlâs car when she begged him to stop, saying her boyfriend would lose his mind. I was filling up my Harley at the station when I suddenly heard her panicked voice behind me.
âPlease, sir⌠please donât do that. If he sees this, heâll think I asked you for help. Heâll get furious.â
She looked so youngâmaybe nineteen or twentyâwith messy blond hair pulled into a loose ponytail. Her mascara was smeared from crying, and she stood next to an old, dented Honda with an empty tank. Her hands were shaking as she counted a few coins. Maybe three dollars in change.
I had already slid my card into her pump before walking over. âThe gas is already running,â I told her softly. âCanât stop it now.â
âYou donât understand.â Her voice dropped to a scared whisper. âMy boyfriend hates when people help me. He says it makes him look weak. Heâs inside buying ci******es, and if he sees youââ
âHow much does he usually let you put in the tank?â I asked as the numbers climbed on the screen.
Her face fell. âJust whatever these coins can buy. Usually half a gallon⌠just enough to get back to the apartment.â
Iâm sixty-six. Iâve been riding bikes most of my life, and Iâve seen plenty. But something about this girlâs fear went straight to my bones.
âWhereâs home?â I asked.
âForty miles away.â Her tears were coming faster now. âPlease, you have to stop. Heâll be out here any second, and heâll think I was talking to you, or flirting, or asking for moneyâŚâ
But at that moment, the pump clicked. Her tank was full. Over forty dollarsâ worth.
She stared at the number like it was a threat. âOh no⌠oh God, what did you do? Heâs going to kill me. He really will.â
âWhy would he hurt you for something I did?â I asked, even though I already knew. I could see the truth in her eyes⌠and in the bruises on her arms she tried to hide.
âYou donât know him,â she whispered. âYou donât know how he gets.â She grabbed my arm. âPlease, just leave before he comes out here.â
âIâm not walking away from you,â I told her. She stepped back like Iâd made everything worse.
âYouâre making it harder,â she cried. âHeâll think I planned this. Heâll think I wanted you to save me.â
âDid you want me to save you?â I asked.
She opened her mouth, but before she could answer, her whole body tensed. She froze like sheâd seen a ghost.
âHeâs coming. Oh no⌠please, please go.â
I turned and saw him marching out of the store. Early twenties, wearing a tight muscle shirt and rough-looking tattoos. He was the kind of guy who puffed up when he knew people were watching.
He took one look at the full tank, at me standing by his girlfriend, and his face darkened like a storm.
âWhat the hell is this?â he snapped as he stormed over. He got in her face instantly. âI leave you alone for five minutes and youâre out here begging strangers for money?â
âI didnât ask him!â she cried. âI swearââ
He grabbed her armâhard enough to make her flinch. âHe didnât just fill the tank for no reason. Someone asked him.â
I stepped forward. âI did it because she needed help. She never asked me. This is on me, not her.â
He finally looked at me. Really looked at me. A 6â3â, heavy-set biker with a long gray beard and a vest full of old patches. I saw the moment he realized I wasnât scared of him.
âMind your own business, old man,â he snarled. âSheâs my girlfriend. My car. I donât need your help.â He yanked her toward the Honda. âGet in.â
She tried to obey, but I moved between them and the door.
âI donât think she wants to go anywhere with you.â
He laughedâsharp and mean. âSeriously? Brandi, tell this old guy you want to come with me.â
Still staring at him, I said, âBrandi⌠do you feel safe with him? Right now. Tell me the truth.â
âSheâs fine!â he shouted. âTell him!â
But Brandi stayed silent, shaking, hugging herself.
Then he made the mistake.
He reached into his waistband, pulled out a gun, and fired a shot at. Read more in Comment or Most relevant -> All Comments đ¨ď¸