In the dark of the night on a desolate mountain road, the car was traveling along. Having had more then enough to drink I gripped the steering wheel even harder, imagining it would help me to control the vehicle better. I knew in my my heart I was in no condition to drive and yet my mind told me that I could make it home safely. My best friend sat in the passenger seat, idly looking out into the darkness. Neither of us could wait to get back to the comforts of our own homes and loved ones that waited there. We had just safely dropped off another one of our friends a few minutes ago at his home. Along the winding mountain road I drove, happy that limited vehicles were out driving at this time of night.
Closer and closer we came to the end of our trip when suddenly fear filled me. I had a flat on a mountain road, fighting to keep control of the vehicle, fearing that we would go off the road and crash, dying in a horrendous and violent death. I was rapidly losing control of the vehicle, my reactions limited from the slacohol which I had consumed throughout the day. Looking over I could see the fright in my friends eye, knowing that we were in grave danger if I did not get the vehicle stopped and pulled off the road. Through my mind flew flashes of accidents I had seen and the deadly results they had caused, knowing that that could not and would not ever happen to me. Now I was about to be caught right in the middle of one of them unless a miracle came quickly.
The steering wheel was fighting me now, seemingly controlled by the demon of death. Was this the way that our lives were meant to end, on a mountain road, in the night, void of the ones that loved us so much. I knew I was in trouble as I had been drinking and did not have alicense in my possession, yet knowingly let others get into the car and ride with me. Suddenly the vehicle crashed as I listened to the violent wrenching of metal against the rocks. I closed my eyes tightly and held onto the steering wheel with all my strength.Skidding and ramming into rocks we went. Suddenly the airbag deployed and I as wrapped into it, cushioning me from any sudden and violent impact. All I cared about now was living through this ordeal and being back ith loved ones. Wait! What was I saying? Had I forgotten about the passenger that sat across the seat from me? Did I care that they were in as much if not more danger then I was since the violent crunching and ripping of metal seemed to come from over there? Yes that seemed to be what I was saying, that I was the one and only thing that mattered to me.
The vehicle had finally stopped as I opened my eyes and looked around in the darkness. I knew in my mind that there would be blood running all over my body from injuries. I let my hands slide along my arms and legs and over my body and I was amazed. There was no blood and no injuries at all. My heart filled with joy as I knew I had been lucky and made it through that ordeal. Suddenly I remembered I had not been alone and I looked across the vehicle where my friend was sitting. I called out his name again and again, waiting in between each for him to respond. I could see blood coming from him and smeared on the inside of the vehicle. I knew in my heart he would be all right though since i had not received even a scratch. I watched as he turned his head toward me, leaving me staring into the eyes of a sould that was suffering great pain and anguish. I watched as his lips moved slightly and he said, "Why? Why? Why did this have to happen?" I assured him that he would be all right as I searched for the cell phone to notify the police and get medical help.
It was not long before the night was dilled with flashing lights and sirens as emergency crews arrived and worked on my injured friend. I was now deep in thought as I had a choice to make. Would I tell them I was driving, even though I had spent the day drinking? Or would I point the finger at my injured friend that was being feverishly worked on by medical persons, trying to save his life? I also knew that I had been driving without a valid license and may never drive again if the police ever found out. I watched as the police officer came closer and closer, my mind whirling trying to come up with a decision on what to say. I had finally decided as he stepped up to me. I listened carefully to the words as he spoke, telling me how lucky I was to not have gotten seriously injured in the accident. I looked at him and smiled a nervous smile. He started asking questions and I answered them as fast as I could. I knew he could smell the odor of alcohol on my breath as I talked.
My mind raced trying to stay ahead of his questions, making sure I knew what I was saying without having to stop and think. He asked me how much I had to drink and I told him that I was really unsure at the moment but that we had been at a party and been drinking off and on throughout the day. His look at me hardened and then the question came, asking me who had been driving. Without hesitation in my voice I looked him in the eye and told him that my friend had been driving, assuring me that he was fit to drive us back home. He looked at me inquisitively, knowing it was my car. I assured him that I had given the keys to my friend since he would not let me drive in my alcohol induced impairment.
I watched as he wrote in his notebook, hiding my sweaty palms and nervousness. I stood there watching as he turned and walked away, making his way back to the ambulance where my friend was now being prepared to be moved to the hospital for treatment. I knew I had made it through the questions, piling the blame unfairly on him. Deep inside I felt no guilt just relief that I would still be able to drive after I found a vehicle to replace mine. I was feeling really good about what I had done when I saw the policeman once again approaching me. My heart started racing and my nerves ran wild as he came up to me. "One more question he asked, "Do you have a valid license to drive?" I looked up into his eyes and with no hesitation I answered, "Yes officer I do, but it is not on me."
The lies were quickly getting deeper now as he asked me to explain why it was my car and how we got to the party earlier that day. I told him that I had left my license at home so I would not be tempted to drive after drinking and my friend had offered to drive us since he was not a big drinker. He quickly wrote in his book and started to turn away, stopping long enough to say, "At least there was one smart person in the vehicle today." I smiled at him and nodded my head as he walked back over near the vehicle. I took a deep breath knowing I had been spared and that my name was not going to go down as being responsible for the accident and injuries. Soon I was ast home with loved ones uncaring that my friend was laying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. Tubes and machines were working hard to keep him alive while the dostors fought to save his life.
His family was by his side now, trying to come to grips with the thought that their beloved son might not make it. They wondered how and why he was driving my car, knowing that we were not that close of friends in real life. We would speak and chat with each other but very seldom would we spend much time together. I laid there in my bed smiling, knowing I had used a lie to keep my name clean and unresponsible for that night. The next day word came that my friend had not made it as the machines and tubes had been removed and he passed. No tears came to me and I knew now that my lie was safe, taking it to the grave with him. I sighed a huge sigh of relief at the thought that I was free, free of the only person that could and would put me behind the wheel. I cared not that his family still thought that he had been driving, that he had been responsible for his own death. Let them think that as long as my name was free and clear of any suspicion.
I knew there would be a funeral soon and debated on whether I would even go. I surely did not want to listen to any questions about the accident or people who thought different of the facts as they were now known. I did not care what people thought of me or what suspicions they had as I was free and still able to enjoy my life. I now would and was totally comfortable of hiding behind those lies for the rest of my life. Anything that kept my name clean and people from anger towards me was the way I wanted and would live. I cared not that a family had their hearts torn by their loss and living with the thought that their loved one had caused his own death.
(c) Tall Mountain Dreamer September 22, 2007
