Why Didn't Someone Stop Me? (flash fiction)

Why didn’t someone stop me?


I made up my mind. I would not be deterred. At some vague level I knew I was drunk, and they let me go.


I was being unreasonable; they knew I was drunk. They let me go.
How I wish someone had stopped me. They didn't.


I was determined to hitchhike.


I stood on the road's edge, swaying. I raised my hand to every oncoming vehicle. The swish of the wind from their passing bulk almost knocked me backwards onto my bum. Though I must have reeked of grog, the drivers wouldn't have known that. Not then. Nobody stopped. No one yelled, "Hop aboard young lady," while drawing into the curb.


My stomach began rolling like an ocean wave. My arm dropped – my head drooped. I turned, and was sick on the gravelly roadside.


I had paid a lot for my hairstyle before the party. Now it hung in my face. I was angry as I thought of them – those other girls back there – those gigglers back there. I didn't know why they wouldn't come with me, but I'd show them! So what if I was wearing high heels and my red satin miniskirt – so what? I'd show them! I could hitchhike if I wanted to! They said I wasn't dressed right.


Then I heard it. The crunching of tyres on gravel as a vehicle pulled off the bitumen. I swung around. It was a dual-cabin truck with three men inside. I ignored the hair prickling the back of my neck, and got into the open back door.


They didn't ask me where I was going. They were laughing a lot, but I didn't hear the joke. They didn't talk to me – they talked to each other.

I felt tired. I wished I was home in bed; home at the apartment.

Then one said, snickering, "Does your mummy know you're out, little girl? You got nice legs for your age."

"I'm 18!" I snapped. They all laughed.


I closed my eyes. I just wanted to sleep. I felt the truck pulling up again. It was bouncing – we were off the bitumen.


"Where are you going?" No one answered.


Then I was on the ground. I felt my head hit a rock. The tearing pain between my thighs went on and on. God help me!


I'm sober now. A young male officer asks me, "Did they say anything before they left?"


"Yes, tell your mummy you had a great night out!"


Why didn't someone stop me?