When Tomorrow Comes

Written September 9, 2010 I'm in the dark in a hotel-- nope- this story isn't sexy- or funny- it's grim and sad but needs to be told... Campbell River is a really pretty place- I've never been here before. The Travelodge leaves much to be desired but it's pretty clean and they have provided my daughter, my neice and whoever is taking them swimming at that moment with about 600 towels. It is pretty- but we're not here to admire it- we are here to try to find some kind of justice- what kind- I'm not sure-- my hopes of someone doing the "right" thing have gone down the shitter. We saw him. The man who drove into the southbound lane-- when he was heading northbound-- the man who stole a husband, a son, a papa, a brother, an uncle, a stepdad and a friend... He doesn't look like I expected.. he is little and short and bald... yesterday when he saw us for the first time he looked upset- sad- pitiful... but today he seemed different... at first yesterday I thought he might have been crying- but today after watching him listen to the testimony of four different people describe the accident- and each of those four different people describing finding Wes dead- he didn't look sad... he didn't look like anything... just like a bald, short guy who was trying to get away with murder. I find it so interesting the defense's approach. I guess in a way, when you're grasping at straws it's as a good of an approach as any- but when you're us- Wes' family sitting there- it just seems so pathetic and cowardly. Just admit it.. you drove drunk and you killed someone... but instead his defense is to make the crown "prove" he was driving- as the accident happened in the middle of nowhere (almost) and no one actually saw him hit Wes' truck. The motor vehicle recontruction team PROVED that at least- but since no one saw the accused go flying through his window- there could have been someone else driving- who magically dissapeared into the forest or ocean within seconds of an accident that killed one man and broke another's neck... there was a witness who was driving behind Wes- one that Wes actually passed on the hiway- and that man rounded the corner just in time to see the accused's truck settle on it's suspension- seconds after his truck collided with Wes'- that witness saw no one other than the accused and Wes- who was taking his last breaths in his truck- air bags deployed- seatbelt on- going the speed limit- at 3ipm in the afternoon on a sunny day... that witness was very nice to us after his testimony and I will bet you a million dollars he wonders every day what would have happened if Wes didn't pass him on the hiway. There have been a number of experts and witnesses who were called to the stand to help crown provei its case- but the decision is all left in the judge's hands... and when tomorrow comes we hope to find some kind of justice-- but like the crown counsel said to us-- justice won't bring Wes back.. not even close... but will it put the accused in jail to give him time to think about what he's stolen for us? I hope so- but my faith in the system when it comes to driving drunk is not strong- will it take away his license so he can't kill anyone else- that's the least that could happen- sparing other friends, families, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings etc. this kind of pain would be a little piece of justice... We need strength to get through tomorrow- and hope to fuel our memories of Wes.