Back in the Day Take Thirteen: 4/17/2012

This is the beginning of a story I started writing while bored at work one day.  It was the venting of my frustration with boyfriends of mine refusing to stop drinking.  Of course now I've learned that I can't hope for men to change...I have to find ones that share my values, etc.  Good realization!

It was raining outside.  Isaac was resting his head against the window watching each drop that hit the glass slide down and out of sight.  He’d been sitting like that for an hour unable to move, hardly daring to breathe.  Just watching.  And waiting.  Waiting for the news he dreaded.  Hoping against hope that she would be alright.  That she would live.

“Isaac!”  He jumped with a start as her family came rushing in.  First her sister, followed by her mother and brother. 

“Any news?”  The sister asked.

He shook his head. 

He watched them as they filled up the seats surrounding the waiting room.  Why were they all here and she was not?  Why did it have to be her the drunk driver hit?  He closed his eyes and silently swore for the millionth time he would never have another drink again.

“How did it happen?”  The shaky voice of her mother broke through his thoughts.

He didn’t want to talk about it.  But as he opened his eyes and saw three desperate faces staring back at him he gave in with a sigh.

“She was just leaving my house.  We said goodbye.  She got in her car.  Backed out of the driveway.  But her car was making funny noises so she pulled over again in front of the neighbor's house.  I was walking over to check it out when suddenly there was a truck crashing toward her.  He slammed into her door.”  He stopped.  Why her?

“Then what happened?”

“Then…then it’s really hard to remember.  There was a lot of noise and people running around.  I was in a daze I guess…”  One thing he did remember was the sight of her lifeless body, covered in blood as they pulled her from the car.  It was forever burned into his mind.  Even if he could bring himself to say it out loud he didn’t think he ought to mention that, though.

They waited in silence.  He closed his eyes again.  He felt so alone.  Of course he’d always been alone, really.  Sure he’d had friends.  But no one that ever really cared about him.  No one but her.  And his dad of course.  But his dad had moved out of state.  The rest of his family dispersed as well.  She was all he had.  All he wanted. 

He couldn’t help but see the irony of the situation.  How many times had she told him that nothing good could come from alcohol?  He’d ignored her.  He had always loved the feeling of a good buzz.  The numbness that comes with it.  The freedom.  The stress would just melt off when he cracked open a beer after a hard day.  And she would shake her head and roll her eyes.  She didn’t like it, but she loved him anyway.  He’d always laughed at her.  How could she judge something she’d never tried?  He’d had some of the best times of his life as a result of the stuff.  And now he’d trade it all if she would just live.