Broken

One fatal mistake that costs.

It was all over in a matter of seconds. Everything had gone wrong. It had been just another bad day. One gambling chip led to the next. One loss led to the next. One bottle led to the next. By the end of the night, he was utterly wasted when he got into his car. Fumbled with the keys. Ignored the seatbelt. Pulled out of the car park and headed home. The night was pitch black, and he was hammered. Who cares about the headight. The throbbing headache wasn't going away. He was on a deserted street, at 11pm at night. Why not? No coppers around. He floored the gas. Turned a sharp corner.

But what he didn't see was the reflective red 'Stop' sign. Nor did he see the white stripes stark against the wet asphalt. He didn't even see the teenage girl crossing the road as she got home from a late night basketball game. She was fresh out of high school, on a basketball scholarship. Full of spirit and energy.

He slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. Splintering windows, the screech of tires, the screams, and the warm sticky blood. The girl's mangled body on his hood, splattering red on his blue Ford.

And that was the end. 

That girl would never walk again. Never play basketball again. 

Just two seconds. The girl's spine, her life was shattered. Torn into pieces. Broken.  

But after his generous five-year sentence, the first thing he did?

Walk into the bar. For another drink. Just one.

Or so he promised himself.

Promises are made to be broken.

Author's Note

Just a quick depressing piece that I wrote (was supposed to be writing a History essay)

Reviews

[C. Rose]

Very dramatic. Had to remind myself to close my mouth.
Like the double perspective, although it is a risk.
Like the sentence length variation, although it is on the choppier end of the spectrum.
Like the powerful descriptions "red on blue" - especially how your style of describing is strong without relying on superflously lengthly words such as superflous.

Questions:
Stuff the headlights? Zebra crossing? I think zebra crossing means those white stripes on the road - but I was distracted figuring that out (My first impression was "Wait - he's gonna kill a zebra?", which I assume is not the desired effect).

[SHGL]

Thank you! Ha ha. I've always called it the zebra crossing-didn't really know what else, but I re read it and I can see where you are coming from. Better go edit. Thanks a lot :)

[Darkimmortal]

I am not usually a fan of writing that consists of a series of short sentences, but I must admit that this works very well for what you have written here. Also, I have to comment on the zebra crossing, I don't really know what that was meant to be but that really confused me. I was like... he lives in Africa?He is going to kill a zebra? I wonder if they have zebra crossing in the same way that we have deer crossing here..
not the point.
Also, this story even though it is so short, is heart wrenching. You managed to make me feel neutral, sad, and angry all within a few hundred words. It just makes me angry that this actually happens and is not merely a figment of our imaginations. This really puts the point home that drinking and driving shatters lives, and the only person that doesn't suffer for it truly is the person that committed the crime. So for that I applaud you.
Also, writing is the best way to procrastinate. Who would ever pick writing an essay over writing a really good short? The answer should be noone but alas, there are some people that would say otherwise.

Very well written! Keep penning!