Photo copyright Danny Bowman
“Hi! This is Samantha. I must be in class, so leave me a message and I’ll call you back!”
Beep.
“I’ve paid $39.99 a month for the last six years to keep my daughter’s cell phone active, just to hear that message. She’s never going to call me back, but the smile in her voice gets me out of bed each morning. Samantha paid with her life for this man’s three-martini lunch. But as a father, I understand he is losing the same things I lost. Please consider parole. Free him to make a lifetime’s memories with his own daughter.”
Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for presenting another opportunity for us Friday Fictioneers to try to cram an entire story into only 100 words!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Posts I commented on today (all of whom are Friday Fictioneers):
(In case you missed the reason for this, I participated in the A to Z Blogging Challenge in April, and though I posted every day, I was lousy at visiting and commenting on other participants’ blogs. So for each day in May, I’ve vowed to visit and comment on three posts from the various blogging communities whose members have supported my efforts. One post MUST be from a new blog I haven’t yet visited.)
Friday Fiction–Listening (elmowrites)
Upgraded Service–Friday Fictioneers (Björn Rudbergs Writings)
Flash Fiction Friday–Scavenger Hunt (The Bradley Chronicles) new blog of the day
Things I See and Know 
JKBradley
May 24, 2013 at 2:37 PM
As one person who lost a cousin to drunk driving, it’s difficult to find peace and know forgiveness. But it’s necessary. Nice flash.
dreaminofobx
May 24, 2013 at 3:19 PM
I’m very sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what the families of drunk driving victims go through, and I don’t know how willing/able I would be to forgive as this father has.
buffalostarmedicine
May 24, 2013 at 6:40 PM
As one who has both lost a loved one to drunk driving, and been the family member to a drunk driver, let me say this… My brother made a teenaged mistake, he went to trial, served 5yrs and was paroled. He went back to high school got his ged, married, and was working on getting his life back … after 15 more years of guilt, shame, and abuse from the community. Not to mention the fallout to his family who were threatened, verbally abused, and even physically attacked by the family of the one who died. They finally, after 15yrs of parole, brought him back to trial, convicted him, sentenced him to 10 yrs. He served, seperated from his children for most of their lives. He was home less than a week from his second jail term for the same offense when he committed suicide…
dreaminofobx
May 25, 2013 at 2:50 PM
It seems there is no “winning” side in drunk driving fatalities. I’m sorry to hear of the tortured life your brother faced, and my deepest sympathies for your family’s loss.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
May 24, 2013 at 9:11 PM
I think that this tale is so important and I’m happy it’s written. The life of the drunk driven is ruined weather in jail or not in most of the cases… what we need in this world the ability to forgive even the worst of sins. Very poignant and thought provoking.
dreaminofobx
May 25, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Thank you. When I started writing the story, I wasn’t sure how it would end…I just followed where it led me, and forgiveness seemed as good a place as any.
sustainabilitea
May 24, 2013 at 9:58 PM
This is very thought-provoking. Forgiveness is very difficult, especially in this kind of situation.
janet
dreaminofobx
May 25, 2013 at 2:53 PM
Yes, I think forgiveness would be exceptionally difficult, and I have a lot of respect for the people who are able to do so. I hope I never find myself in that position.
rochellewisoff
May 25, 2013 at 9:17 PM
Dear Michelle,
What a beautifully written, incredibly touching story of the ultimate forgiveness. Love it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
dreaminofobx
May 29, 2013 at 6:20 AM
Thank you, Rochelle. I used that perspective just because that’s how it came to me, not giving any thought to the potential controversy I might cause. I hope the piece was not insensitive to anyone whose life has been affected by a drunk driver.
lingeringvisions
May 27, 2013 at 8:23 AM
This is the ultimate in forgiveness.