Driving Drunk

Charlotte Winters passed away two months ago and I was asked to do an article about the events that led up to her death. She and a friend, Alice, were at a party one evening drinking. Alice hopes that this story will help the many teens that are faced with peer pressure to drink and do drugs. Also, to learn from her mistakes and not there own. She knows that you have to learn from some of your own mistakes, but if this article could save you the pain and heartache that Alice goes through it is worth telling.

"Hi mom is me Alice. I just wanted to call and talk with you, but I guess you aren't home so I will call tomorrow. Some of my friends and I are going to a party tonight, so I won't be home. Oh, don't worry I'll be careful. I will call you when I get home tomorrow. Love you, bye."

Alice always liked to call her mom before big parties, just so that her mom knew Alice was safe. Especially since, she couldn't keep tabs on her like when she was in High School. Plus, it was their chance to do some mother/daughter bonding and talk about the week. Then the next morning, after a party, Alice would call her mom one more time, to let her know that she got home okay. Tonight was going to be fun. Tonight was going to different then all the other nights they had gone out.

Charlotte was going with her. They had met these boys at the mall, who invited them to come. Alice and Charlotte loved it when cute boys had parties. It made the night go by with a lot more fun. They both knew that they would have to stay over. The girls had made a pact to never drive drunk. However, every party must come to an end and at least one of the girls wouldn't want to stay at some stranger's house. No matter how cute the boy was. Or how much fun the other was having. They had asked the boys if they could stay the night when they arrived, but it was Charlotte that didn't want to stay.

"Alice, I want to go home. It's almost 3am and I want to go to sleep at home," Charlotte yelled as she stumbled her way through the crowds to find Alice.

"No, remember, no driving while we are like this," Alice knew that she had to be the one to remind them of their pact.

"Who cares, let's go. I am so tired. I want to sleep in my own bed tonight," Charlotte, tugged on Alice's shirt in the direction of the door. She couldn't understand why Alice was refusing to leave. Then again she had had about ten shots of vodka. Charlotte had a hard time remembering anything when she had vodka. All the cares in the world were gone by the third shot.

"NO. Hey, guys help me out here, she wants to leave."

The guys knew they were supposed to be staying the night, but after a few failed attempts, they gave up and went back to the party.

"If you don't want to stay, then you better go," one of the guys said as the others were getting back to the party.

Alice hated driving home drunk. She never felt in control. She had done it a couple of times, and nearly killed everyone in the car. One night she wanted to know what it felt like to be the passenger, so she only had one drink at the very beginning of the party and drank water the rest of the time. When it came time to go home, it turned out to be the worst night the she could ever remember. Ever since then they had always stayed the night at the house where the party was.

Then there were the few times when one of them just didn't want to wake up in a strange house. Charlotte was getting angry with her and wanted to go home. Alice knew that she had had one to many and didn't want to leave yet. Alice remembered one evening that she wanted to go home and Charlotte made sure that they stayed over at the party. Why was it so hard for Alice to get Charlotte to stay this time?

"I don't want to go right now. We already said we were going to stay and that is what I intend to do is stay right here," Alice was mad Charlotte kept pushing her into doing something that she didn't want to do. Charlotte knew the more infuriated she become the more Alice would give in. Alice knew that she couldn't give in. She knew it would be a long while before she drove home drunk. Especially after being a sober passenger, while someone else was driving drunk. She had been a foul that night to let her friends drive like that. Hadn't she been taught to be responsible? She had felt she was more like a failure, instead. She also had known as well as her friend the more she talked the more she would give in. So, finally, at the moment of knowing that as long as her friend would be quiet Alice agreed. Not knowing what life changes would lie ahead for her.

"Fine, give me the keys. But this is the last time I let you talk me into doing this."

"Thank you, Alice, you are the best."

Her friend tossed the keys over the small distance that was between them and they headed for the door. Yelling there good byes as they did so. As they got to the car, they got in and sat there for what seemed like to them a lifetime before Alice put the key in the ignition and started the car. Alice didn't feel like the best, considering that she was doing something she knew was wrong. The twenty minute drive seemed to take forever especially on the open freeway. But, Alice loved the freeway. Just like the name, she loved being free. As the freeway become less crowded, Alice began to feel tired and helpless. She remembered feeling this way the last time she drove home drunk. It didn't seem like it was affecting her driving though. Or so she thought. As she tried to keep herself awake and alert she heard a honking from somewhere. She couldn't figure it out because she knew that there wasn't anyone else on the freeway, or was there? The sound of metal touching metal echoed in her less then perfect ears as her car and the one that she thought that came out of nowhere collided. As they did so, she knew everything was different.

Thinking that it was only a dream she decided it was time to wake up and call her mom, to tell her that she had reached home all right. As she began to open her eyes, the reality of the events that occurred the night before came rushing from the back of her mind. It was as if she was recalling the latest horror movie. Alice looked around and saw her mother and father sitting on either side of her.

"Mom," Alice said weakly and coarsely. When was the last time she had had water or any other beverage she thought to herself before saying, "Dad."

"Shh, don't talk. Honey, go get the doctor, he will want to know that she is awake."

Her mother then left the room to retrieve the doctor.

"Well, you've finally come around have you. Alice, do you know what day is today?"

Alice thought for a second, and thought, 'well, it was Friday last night, so Saturday. I will say Saturday.'

"Saturday?"

"Well, actually it is Friday; it has been three weeks since you had the accident."

Alice could not believe it. How could three weeks have gone by? "How is..."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but she didn't make it."

"Oh, my gosh, I killed my best friend. What about the other car?" As she said this, the last words that she said to Charlotte came echoing in my ears,
"Okay, but this is the last time I let you talk me into this.'

From that point on, Alice vowed never to drink any alcoholic beverages. She had never felt that before in her life. It was a new feeling of regret for the things that she had done. Since, Charlotte was a willing passenger in car that night and no one else died, her family didn't press charges. The police did tell Alice that if she had gotten on the freeway that night when her friend first wanted to go home, it could have been worse. That night had a large number of drunken driving incidences and Alice was one of the lucky ones.

Alice often wonders what would have happened that night, had they stayed at the party. She may never know. She is left with a feeling that cannot be erased. Try as she might, the knowledge of someone dying because of her makes her have nightmares. It's like they always say, "Friends don't let Friends drive drunk."