English
My
story begins having a reunion in my condominium.
My friend, Veronica, came
early and we ate and drank beer. Later, my
cousins came over and we continued to drink.
I went out to buy more beer, because this
day was special. It was the Julio Cesar Chavez
fight on television. After the fight was
over, my cousins left.
During this time, in addition to my regular
work, I had to spend some time delivering
newspapers. Veronica was curious about my
work and how I did it, and insisted on coming
with me.
I
knew that I drank too much, but even so,
I decided to go anyway. I took my van instead
of my car, because it was the Sunday papers
and I needed more space. Along the way, I
encountered a patrol car passed in front
of it, perfectly okay. But further on, I
realized we had forgotten the list of houses
and had to return and passed again in front
of the patrol car, okay. Near my condominium,
at a distance of 800 meters, on rounding
a curve, at high speed, I crashed into a
tree. While I injured my nose and my mouth,
Veronica had her head tilted up, and when
she hit, remained pushed into the dashboard.
She would not answer me. I tried to move
her, but I couldn’t because my pain
was so bad. Help arrived and Veronica had
to be extricated from the car. I, too, was
extracted from the car, but only after they
got Veronica out. My visible injuries were
my nose, mouth and head. But when I tried
to put my foot down, the bone in my leg was
fractured and broke through the skin and
my trousers. While they put me on the stretcher,
I wanted to know how Veronica was. I wanted
to see her, but they wouldn’t allow
me to move. They told me she was okay and
that she was in another ambulance. I wasn’t
even grateful for the paramedic’s attention.
On the contrary, I was insulting to them
and even struck one paramedic.
Upon arriving at a room in the hospital,
with one of my sisters next to me, I asked
again about Veronica. My attitude was rude.
She answered that Veronica had died. She
was her sister-in-law. In that moment, I
realized my life had changed completely.
I was a turned into a criminal like the jail
official said.
I
had to face justice. The court sentenced
me and I had to go to jail. That was an extremely
difficult time for me. I hurt the family
of Veronica, and especially her children.
I took their mother away from them. My family
has supported me through my ordeal. Because
I lost my driver’s license for 10 years,
I wasn’t able drive and had to take
a bicycle to work. I was also able to rely
on my sisters for support. Now, I have my
license back with full privileges.
My family is the most important thing I
have, now. The alcohol is out of my life.
I do not need it. My life, only I can understand
it, looking at the past. And nevertheless,
I live my life forward
Spanish
Mi historia Mayo 9, 1993
Mi
historia inicia teniendo una reunion en
mi condominio. Mi amiga Veronica llego
temprano y comimos bebiendo cerveza, mas
tarde llegaron mis primos y seguimos bebiendo.
Salí a comprar mas cerveza, pues ese
día estaba programada una pelea de
Julio Cesar Chavez; cuando esta termino,
mis primos se fueron.
En
ese tiempo además de mi trabajo
regular, tenía un trabajo de medio
tiempo entregando períodico. Veronica
tenía curiosidad de mi trabajo e insistio
que fuera a cumplir, solo que ella queria
acompañarme.
Yo
habia bebido demasiado y aun así accedí y
decidí llevar mi camioneta en lugar
de mi carro, pues era el períodico
del Domingo y necesitaba mas espacio. En
el camino encontre una patrulla y pase frente
a ella perfectamente bien; mas adelante recorde
que habia olvidado la lista de las casas
por lo que tuve que regresar, pase nuevamente
frente a la patrulla, todo bien. Cerca a
mi condominio, a unos 800 metros al pasar
una curva, no se que me paso, me impacte
en un árbol.
Cuando reaccione sagraba mi nariz, mi boca,
ella tenía su cabeza inclinada cerca
al parabrizas pues quedamos presionados con
el tablero, no me contestaba, trate de moverla
pero desmaye del dolor. Llegaron a auxiliarnos
y me sacaron a mi, despues a ella. Mis lesiones
visibles eran en mi nariz, boca y cabeza,
pero al ponerme de pie el hueso de mi pierna
derecha salio sobre el pantalon y me pusieron
en una camilla. Yo queria saber de Veronica,
queria verla pero no me dejaban mover, me
decian
ella esta bien, la estan atendiendo en otra
ambulancia. Yo no agradecia sus atensiones,
por el contrario los insultaba y hasta golpee
a un paramédico.
Al
verme en un cuarto de Hospital y a mi lado
una de mis hermanas pregunte nuevamente
por Veronica (mi actitud era grosera) ella
contesto que Veronica habia muerto; ella
era su cuñada. En ese momento me di
cuenta que mi vida habia cambiado por completo,
me habia convertido en un criminal como me
decia un oficial en la cárcel.
Enfrente
a la justicia, me sentenciaron, estuve
en la cárcel, ese tiempo ahí para
mi fué sumamente díficil.
Lastime a la familia de Veronica y en especial
a
sus hijos; pues les quite a su madre. Mi
familia, lo mas grande que tengo me dio
su apoyo apezar de mi acción.
Ya que perdi mi licencia, por 10 años
no pude manejar y tube que usar bicicleta
para ir al trabajo y ademas contaba con
mis hermanas que me dieron el apoyo posible,
ahora he recuperado mi licencia por completo.
La
familia es el apoyo más importante
que tengo hasta ahora. El alcohol quedo fuera
de mi vida, no lo necesito. Mi vida solo
puedo comprenderla mirando al pasado, y sin
embargo, vivo camiando hacia adelante.
