Short Story #2

One Unfortunate Decision

She could see her reflection within, some of the potent liquid still resting patiently at the bottom of the glass. She could picture her life as it was before and realized it had changed; she could see it in her face. Across her right brow lay a slashing scar, the only one that was unable to be removed, and a reminder of her own mistake.

A short while ago, she hadn’t known what had happened to her. She was incapable of remembering the reason; the reason she lay dying amongst her velvety sheets. But now, she knew. She knew it was almost over for her. She knew it was impossible to come back.

***

The sun had been shining most of the day, and Addison was excited for night. She was planning to spend most of it with her friends, just going out to a movie and catching up afterwards. She hadn’t seen them for a couple of weeks and was happy to finally be going out with them. She stepped out of her Mercedes and began her long night amongst her closest friends.

After the movie, they went out to a club and were dancing the night away. Addy, however, did not realize how much she had been drinking. Her friends were aware that she was overdoing it and cut off her supply of alcohol before she could crash. They all decided that she was in no condition to drive home.

“Okay, but what about my car? Are you going to get it for me?”

“Add, I think you will live without your car for one night,” said her friend Tammy.

“N-no, you do dot undersland. I nudd my car,” she said, slurring her words.

“Well, you will get it back tomorrow, don’t worry,” Daria said.

“But—“

“No buts,” Tammy said, cutting her off. “I will be sure to pick it up tomorrow morning on my way to work.”

Addison knew that she needed to get her car back. She had too many valuables that she had forgotten to leave at home beforehand. She needed it to get to work tomorrow. She couldn’t not have her car. She wasn’t thinking straight. Subconsciously, she knew she couldn’t go back now.

Her judgment was impaired. She couldn’t get her head around the idea of leaving her car abandoned for a night. She needed to think of something to convince her friends to go back.

Tammy kept driving down route 1, while Addy was trying to come up with something. But she couldn’t see straight, let alone think straight. She looked out the windshield and thought she saw what looked like a house in front of the car; it looked like hers. She opened the door to exit Tammy’s car.

“Addy, oh, my God, what are you doing? Shut that door right now!”

“Thanks for driving me home, but I have to walk back and get my car.”

“No, Addy, we aren’t back yet!” cried Tammy.

It was too late. She was gone. Tammy had still been driving at forty-five miles per hour. She slammed on the brakes and brought the car to a screeching halt. Daria pulled out her phone to dial 911. They both rushed back to find Addy splayed out on the pavement, unconscious.

***

“How bad is it?” asked Tammy, sobbing.

The doctor moved closer to where Tammy, Daria, and Addy’s family were standing. “Because we had to put her in a coma for a week, her chances of surviving are not good. We can wake her up for a short time, but her injuries from the accident are too severe for her to function. She is suffering from seven broken bones, a fractured skull, a dislocated shoulder, and internal bleeding.”

“What do you suggest we do?” asked Addy’s mother.

“Honestly, at this point, uh, I can arrange for her to be woken up…for you to say goodbye. Or we could do it without waking her up.” He sighed.

“There’s absolutely nothing you can do for her?” her father asked.

“I’m sorry, but the internal bleeding and her fractured skull were too much for her body. We have done everything possible.” He paused. “I’ll give you a few minutes to decide.” He left the room.

There were no words for what they had to do, for it did not matter which way they chose. They opted to wake her up to say goodbye. They brought her home and woke her up there, so she could pass peacefully in her own room.

Addy woke up to the sounds of hushed voices. She was surrounded by all who loved her. She noticed her mother had been drinking. She knew there must have been bad news. Her mother set down her wine glass, walked over to her, threw her arms around her, and sobbed.

***

She only had hours left before she’d go back to sleep again. She knew that when she fell asleep her life would come to an end. It had been her fault for drinking so much, after all. She should’ve listened to her friends. All she could see was the wine glass that reminded her of the mistake that would soon take her life.