Still trembling with shock, Wayne stumbled into the den, poured a glass of vodka, and downed the drink. He closed his eyes, but the images of the wrecked car flashed through his head. The thought of what happened to the passengers weighed heavily on his conscience, I should've helped them, but I didn't. How could I leave them?

            "Wayne is that you?" Elizabeth called down.

            "Go back to bed mom," he didn't want her to see him like this, but the sound of her slippers hitting the marble floor indicated she disobeyed his request.

            "I was worried about you," upon entering the room she noticed Wayne soaking wet and trembling.”What's wrong?"

            "Nothing," he shrugged off her concern.

            "Don't lie to me, you're shaking, now tell me what's wrong."

            He took a deep breath and wiped his face, "There was an accident."

            "Are you hurt?" she searched his face for any sign of injury.

            "I'm fine," he poured another round of vodka. "It's the others," he set the bottle down. "The other driver crashed into a tree."

            "Were they hurt?"

            "I don't know,” he raised his voice. “I fled the scene."

            "Why?" lightning flashed across the sky and a clap of thunder followed, startling her.

            "I caused the accident," he took a sip of vodka and collapsed in a chair. "I was angry about my fight with dad and I got too distracted. The next thing I remember I was in the other lane, on a head-on collision with the other driver." He clasped his hands together, "the car was a mess. I wanted to help, but I panicked and left. I don't even know if they're okay." With his sleeve he rubbed his forehead, "Mom, I don't know what to do. If the police ever find out..."

            "They won't,"

            "What do you mean?"

            Elizabeth couldn't bear the thought of seeing her son go to jail. "For the time being we're going to keep this quiet."

            "What about the other driver?"

            She knelt beside her son. "Until we know further details, I think it's best to keep this between us," she wrapped her hands around his.

            "But mom,"

            "No, buts, now go upstairs, dry off, and get some sleep."

            Although he disagreed with her decision, he reluctantly obeyed his mother's wishes.