Symbols This Could Be Us Kennedy Ryan

The Purple Motorcycle Symbol: Freedom and New Beginnings in This Could Be Us

Introduction

In Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us, the purple motorcycle arrives at a moment of emotional reckoning. After a blended-family dinner that succeeds beyond Soledad’s hopes, Judah leads her outside to a gleaming 1981 Honda CM400—painted her favorite color—and invites her for a ride. This gift, drawn from his Me List, becomes a concrete emblem of freedom, being truly seen, and the joyful new life Soledad is building. The scene echoes the novel’s central preoccupations with self-partnering, healing, and the courage to trust again.

Literal Description

Judah’s motorcycle is a 1981 Honda CM400, restored and painted purple with chrome accents. He and his father finished the bike over Christmas and had it shipped to Soledad’s home in Atlanta. The purple shade is a direct nod to an earlier conversation: Soledad once told Judah that purple was her favorite color, and he remembered. The bike appears only in Chapter 45 (Soledad’s point of view), just after she has navigated her daughters’ new dynamic with the twin boys. Judah steps on the kick-starter, the machine roars to life, and they ride off together.

Recurrence in the Story

The motorcycle itself appears only once, but its roots run through earlier chapters. The concept of a Me List is introduced in Chapter 24, where Soledad launches her own Me List—a collection of activities done solely for her enjoyment, such as renovating a she shed. Judah, watching her online, is inspired to create his own list. We learn from Chapter 17 that Judah had ridden motorcycles in the past and that riding was something he wanted for himself again. The purple motorcycle is the physical fulfillment of that personal commitment. Its sudden appearance in the driveway after the family dinner signals that Judah has prioritized his own happiness, just as Soledad has been doing.

Symbolic Meaning

Freedom and Flight

Soledad has never been on a motorcycle. She feels “girlish giddiness” and tears of joy that the night breeze licks away. The ride itself becomes the point—“I don’t ask where we’re headed, and I’m not sure he has a specific destination in mind. The ride is the point, and that we are on this road together.” This mirrors Soledad’s journey: she no longer needs a fixed plan or a man to rescue her. She has saved herself, and the motorcycle ride celebrates that unmoored, liberating feeling.

Being Seen

Judah’s choice of purple is the most intimate detail. He listened when she mentioned her favorite color, and he acted. Soledad thinks, “I’m seen in a way I’ve never been seen.” The motorcycle, then, is not merely a vehicle but a declaration of how well Judah understands and honors her. It stands in stark contrast to Edward’s neglect and disrespect throughout her marriage.

Partnership Without Erasure

As Soledad wraps her arms around Judah, she reflects: “I’ve never been held so tightly and still felt so free.” The motorcycle ride embodies a relationship where she can be fully herself—awake, reborn through her own fire and pain and work and wisdom—while also sharing joy with another person. It is the culmination of the self-partnering and self-love theme that runs through the novel.

Themes

  • Healing and Second Chances: The motorcycle scene comes directly after the family dinner, proof that Soledad and Judah can blend their lives without chaos. It signals that trust, once broken by Edward, can be rebuilt with consistent care.
  • Neurodiversity and Parenting: The dinner’s success—Aaron enjoying mac and cheese, Inez bonding with him over a Rubik’s cube—sets the stage. Judah’s ability to balance his sons’ needs with his own desires shows that a fulfilling romantic life does not require sacrificing parental responsibility.
  • Betrayal and Trust: The purple motorcycle contrasts sharply with Edward’s betrayals. Where Edward stole money and hid a child, Judah offers a gift that requires no repayment—only that Soledad hold on tight.

Character Connections

  • Soledad Barnes: The ride solidifies her metamorphosis. She tells Judah she loves him, but she also mentally declares, “There’s nothing for him to save me from, because I’ve saved myself.” She is no longer waiting for someone else to define her life.
  • Judah Cross: By completing his Me List item, Judah demonstrates that he values his own joy. He is not a prince who awakens a sleeping princess; he is a partner who rides beside a woman already awake.
  • Edward Barnes: Though absent from the scene, his shadow makes the motorcycle’s freedom more potent. Soledad’s ex-husband was controlling and deceitful; the motorcycle ride represents the opposite—a trust fall into the unknown.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Judah paint the motorcycle purple, and what does that color choice reveal about him?
    Judah paints the bike purple because Soledad once said it was her favorite color. The gesture shows he listens to details and acts on them, demonstrating a level of thoughtfulness that Soledad never received from Edward. It also connects to the novel’s motif of being truly seen—the color becomes a private symbol of Judah’s care for Soledad’s preferences and identity.

  2. How does the motorcycle ride parallel Soledad’s journey of self-love?
    Soledad notes that the ride has no fixed destination; “the ride is the point.” This mirrors her own path after leaving Edward. She has moved away from needing a predetermined outcome (e.g., marriage) and learned to enjoy the present moment. Her tears of joy and the physical sensation of wind and speed represent the emotional freedom she has worked to achieve through her Me List and therapy.

  3. In what way does the motorcycle scene reinforce the theme of partnership without dependence?
    Soledad explicitly says, “There’s nothing for him to save me from, because I’ve saved myself.” She does not ask Judah to rescue her or complete her. Instead, they ride together as equals. The motorcycle requires her to hold on, but he does not hold her back; she is both secure and free. This balance encapsulates the novel’s ideal of a healthy second-chance romance.

  4. What does the motorcycle reveal about Judah’s own Me List and his emotional growth?
    Earlier in the book, Judah watched Soledad’s video about self-partnering and realized he had been putting everyone else’s happiness before his own. By completing his Me List item—the motorcycle—he proves he can prioritize his own desires without neglecting his sons. The gift also shows that he is ready for a serious relationship with Soledad, not as a caretaker but as a partner who brings his whole self to the table.