The Lost Night

A sudden burst of light scrapped my eyes wide. My body was aching as I laid on my stomach with my head hanging off some strange bed. A sharp pain rushed through my thigh and I erupted to my feet. In this moment I realized I was surrounded by cement walls and a barred window. I must be in a jail cell. With no realization of how or why I am here, I slowly reached into my pocket. As I dug in my pocket I counted 5 items. The first item I pulled out was a Bud Light bottle cap. I didn't drink so I was very confused why it was in my pocket, poking at my leg. Stunned by my discovery I reached for the next item, only to find my two year sobriety token. Then I had a sudden epiphany appear, I just realized I received my token the yesterday morning but it still didn't coincide with why I am in a cell. My third item was a receipt from the bar. Instant, disappointment filled my body as I have worked so hard for my token. But I just assumed I was placed here for over drinking like I did several times many years ago. Then, I saw my reflection in a mirror across the room and had cuts all over my face. When I pulled out the fourth item it fell to the ground along with the fifth item. My body soon plummeted with it as I realized what happened. Laying on the ground next to me was my car keys and a blood covered picture of a family that I have never seen before last night. I went to the bar to celebrate my departure from my addiction with a single drink. That one drink quickly turned into many. Thinking of only myself I got into my car and headed home at the end to the night. I had ran an intersection and slammed into another car. Inside the car was a teenager, he looked as if he just got his license. I stumbled to the car but he appeared dead from the collision. Gripped tightly in his hand was a family portrait covered in his blood. I tried to clean the blood off to identify the family but to no avail. My guilt made me keep to photo to insure this would never happen again. Sitting here embracing the events from last night the picture stares at me... This cell will now be my new home.