What Did I Do That Was So Wrong?

This was written about a good friend of one of my coworkers at the time.

What Did I Do That Was So Wrong?

by Suzanne C. Suber

 

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

I enjoyed life the best I could…

Never tried to hurt anyone…

For over thirty years I’ve been surrounded by the same friends.

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

I enjoyed my drinking… I won’t give it up… It helps me forget.

Smoking is a part of me…Why did she leave me and take the kids?

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

My new gal is always there for me.

She hands me a drink when she has one.

Heck, she even lights my cigarettes.

Thank God she was there when I collapsed with a stroke.

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

My best buddy keeps telling me to take better care of myself.

I’m not really sure that I understand…

All my other buddies still hang out with me…

They drink and smoke…

It doesn’t bother them.

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

I work hard, even in the heat of summer.

I’m a good man…

I help others the best I could.

Some say that my girlfriend is using me…

That she’s clean me out when she gets the chance.

I trust her… Heck, she has keys to my house and shop.

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

I have really great kids… they’ll probably grow up to be just like me some day.

The doctors don’t know what’s wrong with me… why I keep having strokes.

Why my mind isn’t what it was…

Why I’m always in so much pain…

 

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

Hello!  Hey!  Pay attention…

Doc, why do you keep avoiding me?  What are you saying…?

What do you mean, I’m dead?

I can’t be… I’m not old enough… I’ve not lived enough!

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

I can’t be dead… I’m still alive in all of those who still remember me.

My friends still talk about the good times we had together at the bar.

My girlfriend quickly grabbed all she could of mine.

Thanks to my family, she mysteriously disappeared…

Sorry buddy, I’ll miss you too, but…

 

What did I do that was so wrong?

 

 

 

 

This was written in memory of a man named Gary, who was a friend of one of my coworkers (Roy).

 

© 1999

377 words

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[yinseriv]

I think you captured the denial every addict/alcoholic uses at the end. It is the last defense really because who wants to think the choices of life could have been that wrong? Good work. Very insightful.