Lauren

We were sitting in a dim, dark room. Their gazing eyes and questioning looks staring at me, scarcely blinking. My little sister was crouched around the corner listening to every word of my explanation. I could feel how scared she was by the faint rattling of the door. My chest ached from guiltiness after every precious breath. I didn’t know how I would live through this.

“How can would you ever find a reasonable explanation for this?” My mother’s voice had a harsh but quivering tone.

“Would it work for me to just tell the truth?” I uttered, never lifting my head up to look into her eyes. Dad answered this.

To be completely honest I wasn’t sure that my parents would want to hear the truth. I proceeded, not wanting to appear on my parent’s bad side.

The score was tied 21-21 with 1:09 left in the game! We had the ball and a first down. All the high school fans were screaming like maniacs. The ball was played, thrown to a free wide receiver. He not only ran but also dodged other players heading toward the end zone. The person who was screaming the loudest was our coach, encouraging him on. A player from the opposing team dived but was inches away from the tackle. He continued to run. The clock had 35 seconds left as our player scored a touchdown! The sideline maniacs went wild! The Ann Arbor high school MVP, Justin Swuartz, #14, had scored the winning touchdown! 30 seconds were left. We decided to go for the extra point field goal. The hammering pressure was now on the quarterback/place-kicker, Sean McKinley. The kick was miraculous, placed right in the middle of the uprights. Suddenly there was an explosion of cheering. Justin and I bounced up and down. A finger in the shape of a 1 shot up into the air representing their glorious victory!

“Congratulations guys! That game was awesome!” Joey exclaimed enthusiastically. “I’m holding a victory party at my house tonight. Want to come?”

“Yah! Sure, why not!” When I agreed to this I never knew that it would be the most miserable night of my life!

Justin and I finished picking up the field and never, not once did we stop talking about the game.

I walked in the door and kissed my mother hello. “There’s a party at Joey’s tonight. I’ll be home at 11:00.” I sprinted up the stairs, skipping three at a time. I changed out of my uniform and in exchange, clothed myself with my favorite pair of jeans, my Burton T-shirt, and my varsity football jacket. My eyes suddenly fell over to the clock. Acknowledging that it said 6:49, I danced downstairs and out the door.

Justin was outside waiting for me when I arrived at his house. He also was wearing his football jacket and as he slid into the car he handed me a patch to put onto my jacket from the past season.

Driving to the party was no problem, for Joey lives in a very quiet, and small neighborhood. Cars were parked all up and down the street, but there was one spot in the driveway with a sign reserving it for our car. I went first as we jogged up to the door with a proud feeling and a gigantic smiles on our faces. I didn’t get a chance to ring the doorbell because someone opened the door before I got a chance. The guy answering the door screamed when he saw it was us, “Hey everybody! The party has arrived!” There was cheering once again as we stepped into the doorway.

The house was full of high school kids, all of whom had bottles in their hands. Joey greeted us at the door and swiftly shoved beer bottles into our grips.

“Oh come on Sean! One little beer for victory won’t hurt!” With that Joey shoved some beer down my throat and said, "Now that wasn't so bad was it?" The beer tasted so good, but I turned around to see what Justin was doing. Justin also had a beer in his hand and was socializing with the other kids. I saw him laughing and having fun so I joined in.

Time passed. It was around 9:00. I’d had more than just one beer and so had Justin. People had begun to leave but the house was still full. There was a keg of beer in the kitchen with a tube for easy access. The problem was that there was one guy that was drinking the whole thing. His friends were cheering him on. I had another beer, still watching what was going on. Then something happened. I felt hands all over my back pushing me towards the keg. Luckily, Justin faked that he had to talk to me so those hands left me and went to someone else.

We had thirty minutes before we had to leave and Joey was still pushing us to drink. He showed us the pool table at the last minute. We played three quick rounds, until my eyes fell upon a clock that read 10:15. I had told mom that we would be home at 11:00 sharp.

Joey showed us to the door and we said goodbye. Justin felt too woozy to drive so I volunteered. Feeling fine, I stepped into the car and began to drive.

When we reached the first traffic light something weird happened to me. I began to feel real dizzy and tired. Everything went blurry and my head began spinning. Joey was already asleep, looking like he hadn’t had sleep in days. Knowing that we had to get home on time I continued to drive. I put my foot on the pedal and instantly my body slammed toward the front of the car. I had passed out in the middle of the free way, not knowing what was going on. There was a long, loud honk from the car horn. In the pitch-black night no one heard the constant honking. In my mind the night’s events replayed and replayed. That was all I heard, for the car had hurtled over the side of the road.

When I woke up from that terrible moment I was lying in a hospital bed with my family by my side. My mother was talking to Justin’s mom in a very animated way. Both were crying one moment and looking very serious during the other. Then the nurse opened the door and they came in with red, pulsing eyes. My mother sat at the side chair and stroked my hair. I sat up as she pushed me back into bed.

“He’s in his own room. He woke up before you did and is actually quite dumbfounded.”

“You were in a car crash after the party. Apparently you were both drunk.” As my mom said this Doreen, Justin’s mother, left the room.

“Justin is in as very, very bad condition. You will leave the hospital today, but he has to stay here until he is able to stand again. His legs are temporarily paralyzed. We think he will be able to walk again.”

I began to get teary eyed and turned my head so that mom couldn’t see my weakness. I rolled over to the edge of my bed and hopped out.

“Which room?” I said with a hint of darkness in my voice. I felt ashamed and guilty for what I had done. I knew that Justin was never going to play football the same again. It was all, my fault.

I walked into the hallway. I trotted down the hall looking, searching for room 459. When I found it I intruded through the door and stopped in my tracks. Justin was sitting in a wheel chair eating a meal. The door slammed behind me and everyone looked up. I could see the hatred in his mother’s eyes. Justin spoke first.

With slight hesitation like Justin was being left with a dangerous mad man, everyone left, but they never took their eyes off of me as they walked past.

“That’s okay Sean. It was partially my fault as well. I was also drunk and we both were stupid not to have a designated driver.”

“Well Sean, at least you’ll be able to play football again. I might never walk.”

“Well that’s what the doctor’s said but there is a slim chance that I may never recover. I’m sorry it is just really depressing.”

“I know.” I whispered feeling as small as an ant that is about to be squished. I gazed at the tiled floor, afraid at what he was about to say next.

“No you don’t. You’ll never know how it feels. Now would you please leave because I want to spend some time with my family.”

I walked out the door and back to my room. I had thought that Justin would always understand, but I guess he has his reasons. Some how I knew that I had to fight to gain his friendship back. When I reached my room, my parents already had clothes for me to change into so that we could go home. I changed and checked out at the main office. I had some prescription pills to take to help the alcohol go down my system. But that was all I left with. Guilt was over taking my soul as I thought about that night.

When we arrived at home I handed my license over to my parents and knew that I wasn’t going to be allowed to sit in the drivers seat until at least college started. The evening came. That’s where I am in my story right now. Telling all the details to my mother and father. My little sister around the corner. The dim, dark room, the smell of home, and no good memories of the championship game!

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For comments or questions contact Bill Wight at billw@sbschools.net