Changed Lives

Dim lit, dark corners, quite conversations in small spaces, loud speak at T.V. screens, banners swaying in the midnight air. Faces lonely, some friendly, some from old, through to new. Going from place to place drinking along the way.

Stumbling feet pouring into a car, shaking, fumbling hands, struggle trying to put the key into the ignition. A seasoned man passing by says, "Be careful that's a weapon Son". Shouting in a slurred, horse voice saying, "I'll be okay".

Windows down, swerving all along the way, missing a stop light as vision wasn't right. Screeching tires, crunching metal, broken glass, fire erupting, a bad crash will help clear the way by sending an innocent victim to heaven who was just trying to return home; leaving behind a wife, and children. His wife, and children crying when told the sad news that day. Drunk in your car, you can't get far, too drunk to run, so you stay.

Sobering up sitting on an icy cement jail floor as that's the only room. The seasoned man's voice comes back to haunt you. I told you that is a weapon, and to be careful Son.

The young man cried as he had never done before. Thinking about the man he killed that night, he knew what he had done wasn't right, his Mother had raised him better then that.

While in prison he spread the word as he needed to make amends to get his voice heard. Speaking to other young men like he about the perils of drinking, and driving. For it wasn't only a man's life taken that night, but a wife, and children's as their lives are forever changed. As well as his own Mother's life; for she couldn't stand the thought of her youngest having taken another's life. It was just too much for her to bare, she passed away 6 months into his sentencing, leaving behind her grown children, and a grandchild  that was on the way.

It is not okay to ever drink, and drive, or to be impaired in anyway, shape, or form. Call a parent, guardian, friend, neighbor, or a cab to come pick you up to take you home, as that is the responsible action to take. When you pour yourself into that weapon you have no clue the damages to lives you could do. Please heed my plea; don't drive drunk, or impaired for the sake of not only your family, but other families as well.

As for whatever happened to the young man from where this story began; to this day though he's old, and grey he still visits the young men in the jails, and prisons passing on his story, and changing ways of thinking of many, for the good of all.