Forgivness.

Forgiveness.

Some one once told me that I you don't need a million friends, but one true friend. One true friend would be there for you no matter what. I never really paid much attention to it.I was always the popular girl. Everyone wanted to be my best friend. I don't know why really. I mean I was a nice girl, smart and I liked to have tons of fun. Well maybe it was the kind of fun that I had.I was a party girl. Every weekend there was at least one party that I would attend and by the end, I would be drunk off my ass. I would also drive home; drunk. This was never a good idea and I knew it. But, I was so dumb. I just wouldn't think about the consequences of my actions. In the morning, I would be too drunk to even know that I drove home. Then of course, I would look out my door and see that my car was on the lot. I always worried that maybe I hit some one or some ones kid. Never really seriously thinking about it though; I mean I drove home so nothing happened. Except, one day something did happen. This changed my life completely.

It was a late cold, winter night. Snow falling from the gray sky; a soft white blanket of snow covered the earth. I was curled up on the couch still recovering from my hangover. The doorbell rang. I groaned naturally. Got up and went to the door. Normally I peep through my peephole, but decided against it this time.

"Emma?" Said the sad man standing on my front porch; he seemed somber, sad even.
"Um, that depends on who wants to know," There was a massive amount of sarcasm to my tone.
"Emma, I am David Reno. I am Darlene's father," he said as he was looking down.
"What? Who are you again? And why are you standing at my doorstep? It is nearly midnight" I was so mad that he was even here. I was so tired. I had a splitting headache and I had no patience for bull crap.
"Darlene was at a party the other night and she got hit by a car," the man had tears in his eyes. He pulled out a picture from his pocket. Showed it to me.
I looked at it. At that point I knew. I knew I had done something wrong. Something so wrong that it took someone's life.
"Wow, um yea. She was there at the party I attended the other night. Is there something I can help you with?" Still dumbfounded by this.
"She was hit by a car that matches your car there in the front yard. Do you know anything about this?" He put the picture back in his pocket. He wiped a tear from his eye.
"Um. I don't know. I mean I was pretty wasted that night." I couldn't help but shiver.
"She's dead. I really... I really just need some answers. My baby is no longer here and it is tearing me apart." He was now crying. God I felt terrible at that moment.
"I am so sorry." I myself began to cry and become hysterical. I explained everything to him. I couldn't help but sit and talk to him. I listened and I spoke to every word he said. I again answered any questions he had to ask.
"I am sorry. My God, I am sorry. I didn't mean... I didn't know... I am just sorry." I began bawling again. I just I don't know. Then the unexpected happened.
"I forgive you. I just wanted to know what happened. I have been wondering and crying over something that I could not control myself."
"You forgive me? How in the world do you just forgive some one who killed your daughter without even knowing it?" I was mad at him for just forgiving me. I didn't know how to really react.
"I know what happened. I can rest and move on with my life," he said calmly.
"Look, if you ever need some one to talk to or just even hang out with... please feel free to call me." He took out his card and gave it to me. It had his phone number and address on it.
"Sir, I don't know. I mean its great that you forgive me and all, but I don't know I just can't." I said with great shame.
"I need a friend, some one who knew who my daughter was. Some one, that can understand what I am going through. You know exactly the kind of pain, yet relief I feel right now."
"But..." I hesitated. I thought for a moment. This is it. This is that message I had been needed. I needed to realize that partying and drinking is not the way to live my life. It had a purpose and helping this man through his grief was it.
"You know what? I will be there for you. I will be that friend you need. It is the least I can do." I said with a tone of hope in my voice.
"Thank you. Thank you." He stood up and began walking away. "Listen I appreciate your honesty, I won't press any charges. I just wanted to know for my own sake."

I said nothing as he walked away. Months had passed and it was now summer. School was out and I had graduated. Mr. Reno and I had spent months together getting to know one another. I had been to therapy to resolve many of my issues. He had also helped me and talked me out of a lot of the pain I had. I helped him grief. Mr. Reno and I had truly become great friends. With forgiveness and a great friend, anything is possible.