The Road to Freedom--The Last Drive
**The Last Drive** She knew it was risky, but she couldn't resist. She had always loved driving, ever since she was a teenager. The feeling of freedom, the thrill of speed, the joy of exploration. She had missed it so much, ever since the government banned all private vehicles and replaced them with self-driving pods. She hated the pods. They were slow, boring, and controlled by a central system that monitored every move. They had no personality, no charm, no soul. They were just machines, designed to transport people from point A to point B, with no regard for the journey itself. She wanted to feel alive again, to feel the wind in her hair, the sun on her face, the road under her wheels. She wanted to choose her own destination, to take her own path, to make her own memories. That's why she had secretly kept her old car, a vintage convertible that she had inherited from her grandfather. He had taught her how to drive, how to maintain, how to love the car. He had told her sto