Between Never and Forever

by Shain Rose

But I needed one. I was too stirred up in my emotions and too immature to think of the repercussions. I poured alcohol down everyone’s throats, was the life of the party, and tried to enjoy myself so much so that I wouldn’t have to consider the realities of my situation. When Dex had finally had enough, Kyle offered to drive us all home. Laid-back Kyle who’d drank just about as much as me. Kyle who was so sweet and genuine. He’d wanted to help. Dex said no. Even Dimitri looked wary, but Gabriella and I were too far gone to listen to reason. We ran through the freezing rain and folded into his car without looking back at Dimitri and Dex, laughing like we were getting away with not obeying a parent. We just wanted to have fun, but it wasn’t as fun when Dex followed me into that car, unwilling to let me go on my own and gave me a look about as stormy as the weather. “It’ll be fine,” I whispered to him because Gabriella was between us, giggling still. Yet, the night was dark, the roads slippery, the rain heavy on the windshield. How safe did you feel on a bridge in a vehicle going seventy on a highway in icy rain? Safe enough to text? To tell your friends in the back seat you’re fine, you’ve got it under control? “Kyle. You’ve got to slow down,” Dex yelled right as Dimitri swore from the front seat. But it was too late. Kyle’s confidence that night cost him his life. When he looked up from his text, he was veering into oncoming traffic.