Buzz Kill

Nas was

blaring

through the

speakers.

A misty night in

Nashville

blanketed in a

greenish hue.

Jaron and I sang

and laughed as we

drove back to

the apartment.

It had been his

birthday bash

at our favorite

bar.

A vodka night

and lots of it.

Three more turns

and we would

stretch

our impeccable

evening

into morning.

I don't recall

why it was,

exactly,

that I was driving

so fast

but it felt like

a superb idea at

the time.

So I did.

I slid around the first

corner

like a seasoned

stunt man.

Flawless.

Jaron cheered

manically!

I threw it into the second

corner

HARD.

My back tires

left the road

and thrust us

into a large

embankment

and into a lonely

yet,

incredibly sturdy

light pole.

The force of the

impact

knocked us out

cold.

When I awoke

Jaron was still

out.

The car was

steaming,

windshield shattered

It looked as if a great

silver web

was cast over

it.

The car carried the smell

of burnt oil and

hot steel.

I shook him

gently.

"J, wake up."

He was bleeding from

cuts on his head.

"Come on, J!"

I shook him

again.

"ughh..mmbuh."

He was making noise!

He was ALIVE!

About that time

those sickening

blue lights

danced off the

crumbled glass

illuminating

the inside of the car.

"Well, here they are."

I sighed.

They took me to

the police car

and Jaron

to the ambulance.

I could see him

through the

window.

When he

finally noticed me,

his bloody face

laughed

and he gave me the

finger.

I must have

smiled

all the way

to

jail.