To the drunk driver who already had a major and excruciating impact on my life before I was even conceived: you are vile, selfish and thoughtless. Growing up, my mother wasn’t able to give me the motherly type of attention she wanted to.

She couldn’t hold me, pick me up if I cried, I couldn’t dance on her feet nor could she push me on a swing. You took away so much from our family and my mother. You almost paralyzed her with your actions, you put her into a depression, you took away her passion of horse back-riding, you created a different world for her. She could no longer run around in the park with her grandchildren. You have left her with a crippled back, scars and excruciating pain; pain which led her to be on bed rest countless of times.

Not only did you steal my mother's health and happiness, you poisoned her with memories, memories that have had a lasting effect on her safety and well-being. My mother told me, “Many nights I awoke from deep sleep hearing the explosive noise of the crash, jumping up from my bed convinced there had been an explosion in the house.” You destroyed her and us.

To the drunk driver who had triple the legal amount of .08 alcohol in her system that left the bar selfishly and erratically two years ago: I honestly cannot find the words or ways to express how hurt or in pain I still am from the actions, which killed my childhood friend and her beloved friend. You killed two people—two beautiful, incredibly smart, kind-hearted and unique women in the prime of their youth. You destroyed the hearts of their wonderful families, friends and peers. You emotionally tore everyone to pieces after you took the life out of our beloved girls. We will never be able to fully heal, never. This will continuously stun us because there isn’t anything in this world that can justify the horrifying, selfish acts that this drunk-hit-and-run-driver did. To be honest, the morning when I dropped the phone knowing she was killed will stick with me forever.

You both. You will not tear us to pieces anymore. You will disappear from our subconscious and conscious soon enough that we don't wake up in agony over the senseless acts you have committed. My community is building strength, love and bonds that will forever hold those two girls in our hearts. We are sharing the beautiful, goofy stories that allow these girls to be forever alive in our memories and hearts. My family and I will never allow that driver to consume my mother again, by helping her and rooting for her will-power of continuing on. My mother says her scars are not scars from you, rather from life testing her greatest courage and love, and damn, does she have it more than ever.

A message to all:

Here’s the thing, drunk driving affects 300,000 people a day in America because of the loose laws, regulations and harsh realities of people’s actions behind the wheel after drinking. Whether these effects were murder, injuries, emotional trauma, etc., they still altered that person life for a long time of healing. Behind every drunk driving statistic is a person whose life was full of family and friends, love and life, joy and laughter. In order to prevent such tragedies happening, you need to advocate. Raise your voice and learn from others personal stories.

Drunk driving has the means to stop, and society shouldn’t downplay it because it’s the more acceptable way of murdering or injuring someone. As my mother said, "the drunk driver went on with his life while my life and my family's lives were irrevocably damaged. His lack of personal responsibility caused a lifetime of suffering for others." Stop and think before you drink. It’s one thing to put yourself in danger and another to put others lives at stake because of your reckless behavior.