Choice

Chapter 5

I don't know how much time passed but I woke up in a hospital room with my parents and brother sitting around me. I wanted to ask what happened but I just couldn't.

They saw that I was awake and tried to smile.

"Hey, cupcake!" Mom yelled. "How are you feeling?"

"Physically. Fine. Emotionally. I can't say. Just tell me what happened," I said.

My parents gave each other an uneasy look.

"Honey, I don't we should tell you yet," said Dad sadly.

"Tell me now!" I demanded. "I deserve to know."

"Sweety-"

I put my hand up to stop her. I was getting angry. "Just tell me how many," I said.

"How many what?" mom asked.

"How many people did I hurt?" I asked looking them in the eyes.

Mom sighed. "Everyone in your car have injuries but all will recover." Then she hesitated.

"And the other cars?" I asked.

"Five people have severe injuries and three died."

I knew it but it still hit me hard. It hurt so bad. I buried my hands in my face and cried. My dad tried to comfort me but I shook him away. Five minutes later the doctor came in.

"Good you're awake. I'm Dr. Connor and I did some tests and you're perfectly fine," the doctor said. Then his smile faded. He faced my parents. "Did you tell her?" They nodded.

A little sob came from me and there was an awkward silence for a couple of minutes.

I finally say up and looked at the doctor. "Will I go to jail?"

"Fortunately, no. Your parents payed the fine for drunk driving, underage drinking, and everyone's medical bills but you must spend one year in psychological therapy to emotionally recover and stay away from drinking. And three weeks of community service. You're lucky most people would have gone to jail, but the police went easy on you since this is your first offense but sadly a major one."

It was a handful to take in but I understood. I wish this never happened though. This is so uncool for my passé. I almost killed them! Will they ever take me back? Maybe they'll understand because I didn't bring the alcohol.

And those poor people I killed. Innocent people with their lives cut short by me. Families will never forgive me.

The doctor interrupted my thoughts. "I must getting back to work now that Veronica's okay."

"Wait who did I kill?" I asked.

"Vikki, I don't think you want to know," Mom said.

"I need to," I shot back. I looked at the doctor. "Tell me."

Dr. Connors sighed. "A newlywed man, a mother of three, and the mother's fifteen year old son."

A young man who will never see his wife again, two children now motherless, while the third one is dead. Dead. Killed. Murdered by my own hands because I wanted to drink and drive.

As the doctor left there was a lady with a hospital robe on outside the door and she looked at me with horror.

"It's her isn't it!" She screamed. "YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND! YOU DID IT! YOU MONSTER!"

Dr. Connors and other nurses dragged her away and closed the door but I still heard the hysterical screams: "YOU TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME! I HATE YOU!"

The guilt felt so worse. This is how people will look at me. A killer. A disgusting, selfish drinker who did one mistake that caused three lives.