Elsa, keep Me Updated

Quick coffee story

When she left to go out with her friends, I said, “Keep me updated.” At the time, I meant for her to just let me know what they were doing and when she’d be coming home. Now, I wish I had said something else.

Somehow that night, Elsa had gotten drunk and her friends were either too drunk to care, or weren’t being attentive to how intoxicated Elsa truly was.

How else can you explain Elsa driving them all around at 2:30 in the morning with a blood alcohol level 3 times the legal limit? there had been a crash. Most of them were fortunate. Elsa was the only one who died.

Now I think about what I said before she left, “Keep me updated.” Not “I love you,” or anything like that what a fool I was. I thought we had all the time in the world.

Author's Note

This is a writing exercise I did a couple of weeks ago.

Reviews

[R.Guy Behringer]

Laura, my only critique on this post card story would be it's title. I would've gone with "All the Time in the World".

[barleygirl]

The thing I like best about this message: "I thought we had all the time in the world" . . . despite the simplicity of this obvious observation, it's one that people simply forget too soon. In the 2nd paragraph, I get the feeling you're blaming her friends without acknowledging that drunk driving was Elsa's choice, not theirs. Other than that little bump, the rest is clear & straightforward & relatable.

[Stan Lee]

Short and full of feeling. Loved it. So we're off to a great start! What a bane alcohol is to some people I might also add. I really liked the last line. It brings the whole story together. :)

[Scheherazade]

Simple and yet effective. The message is universal and is delivered in a way that anyone could appreciate it. Nice work.

[Philip Muls]

This brings home the fact that it can all end any time. But love can be implied and does not have to be outspoken every time we leave. Well done Laura.

[Pushkar Prabhat]

WoW!!!
beautiful write and yes a great message: we must make the people we care about, feel loved.........

i really liked it!!!
:)

[Krizito]

Superb writing, touching story but the best part; terrific lesson. Take time as it comes, you can never have it enough.

[-inactive now-]

This story is sad, yet very thought-provoking. Very well written.

[Robert Parlange]

Sign of the times, I guess. In the ancient days of snail-mail, we put a little more thought into what we were writing or saying. Now in the age of instant communication, we tend to just write or talk without thinking. Also with emoticons we don't have to actually “feel” anymore. Just select an emotion from a list. We seem to be de-evolving into a pictographic society again.

Hey, you made me think. Stop that.

[Laura Almeida]

That i very true!