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Worst memory

By Jeff Terrill

Fort Wayne Reader

2016-04-07

There’s a toilet and sink only a few feet from his bed. Mike remembers how the evening began. But he struggles to recall how it ended. He remembers meeting up with his girlfriend, eating dinner, drinking a lot of beers, arguing with her and watching her leave the restaurant. Mike isn’t a real person.

Mike drinks more. He sees some friends. They laugh and eat and drink. Mike remembers that. But Mike can’t remember leaving the table or the restaurant. He can’t remember paying or saying goodbye to his friends.

Mike sits up and realizes he’s never been in a room like this. He can’t open his door. He’s locked inside.

Mike sits on the bed and wonders what happened. He surmises that a police officer arrested him for drunk driving. Mike doesn’t remember driving. He doesn’t remember being arrested.

Mike worries that a drunk driving arrest will cause him a problem with his job. He wonders if his girlfriend even knows he’s been arrested. Mike starts to get irritated. He has a lot of questions. When can he go home? How did he get here? Who’s going to feed and walk his dog? Mike bangs on the door. He wants some answers.

Later that morning, a jail guard informs Mike that he’s lucky to be alive. He tells Mike that he drove his car into the back of a minivan stopped at a light. Mike doesn’t buy it. He has no recollection of a crash. Mike feels fine. No injuries. There’s no way he was in an accident.

Hours later, Mike is released from jail. His girlfriend is waiting for him in the lobby. She gives him a hug. Mike apologizes for starting the argument. Mike notices that she’s been crying. Mike wonders if she let thought to go to his house to take care of his dog. Before he has a chance to ask her, she tells Mike that a police officer friend told her that the surgeries went well.

Surgeries. Mike acts like he understands what she’s talking about.

She proceeds to tell Mike that all of the people in the minivan look like they are going to make it.

Mike is too embarrassed to tell her that he blacked-out and has no recollection of any accident. He has no idea what she’s talking about but he acts relieved.

Once at home, Mike types his name for an Internet search. Three local articles appear. Mike learns that he’s charged with four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. He reads about a fiery crash and four college students fighting for their lives.

Mike is uninjured. No stiffness, no cuts, no bruises. And no memory of the events that forever changed his life and the lives of four college kids.

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Jeff Terrill is a partner/shareholder with the law firm of Arnold Terrill Anzini, P.C. Mr. Terrill represents clients accused of crimes throughout northeast Indiana. You can contact Mr. Terrill with any questions or comments at his office at 260.420.7777 or via email at jterrill@fortwaynedefense.com. Learn more about his firm at www.fortwaynedefense.com. This article expressed opinions and observations of the author, is not intended as legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Please consult a qualified attorney with any legal questions or issues you might have. Thank you