Brittany: Someone Should Have Taught Him

By Brittany Langford

I went to a birthday party
but I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink at all,
so I had a Sprite instead.
I felt proud of myself
the way you said I would
that I didn’t choose to drink and drive
though some friends said I should.

I knew I made a healthy choice and
your advice to me was right
as the party finally ended,
and the kids drove out of sight

I got into my own car,
save to get home in one piece
never knowing what was coming
something I expected least.

Now I’m lying on the pavement
I can hear the policeman say
“The kid that caused this wreck was drunk.”
His voice seems far away.

My own blood is all around me,
as I try hard not to cry,
I can hear the paramedic say,
“This girl is going to die.”

I’m sure the guy had no idea
while he was flying high,
because he chose to drink and drive
that I would have to die

so why do people do it,
knowing that it ruins lives?
But now the pain is cutting me
like a hundred stabbing knives

Tell my sister not to be afraid
tell mommy to be brave,
and when I go to heaven,
to put Mommie’s little angel” on my grave

Someone should have taught him
that it’s wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his mom and dad had,
I’d still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter,
I’m getting really scared.
These are my final moments,
and I’m so unprepared.

I wish that you could hold me, Mom,
as I lie here and die.
I wish that I could say,
I love you and good-bye.