Chapter 8 – Red Lights
710 Words
It didn’t happen all at once.
It never did.
At first, it was just a glass.
Then two.
Then nights she didn’t remember clearly… only the quiet that came with it.
Nia told herself it helped.
Not fix anything.
Just… soften it.
Take the edge off the noise.
But the noise didn’t leave.
It waited.
And when it came back—
It came louder.
That night, she didn’t think about it.
Didn’t count how much she’d had.
Didn’t question it.
She just grabbed her keys.
The air outside hit her face, cool and sharp—but not enough to clear her head.
Her steps were slower than usual. Slightly uneven.
But she didn’t stop.
“I’m fine,” she muttered under her breath, unlocking the car.
The engine started.
The world blurred just a little.
The road stretched ahead, long and empty.
Streetlights passing in slow, dragging intervals.
Too slow.
A car passed her.
Then another.
A horn sounded somewhere behind.
Nia frowned slightly, her grip tightening on the wheel.
“Relax…”
Blue and red lights flashed behind her.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
“Oh.”
The car rolled to a stop at the side of the road.
Slowly.
Carefully.
For a moment, she just sat there, staring ahead.
Then she leaned her head back slightly and let out a quiet breath.
A knock at the window.
Nia turned, blinking again before lowering it halfway.
“Evening, ma’am,” the officer said, his tone firm but controlled. “Do you know why I pulled you over?”
Nia stared at him for a second longer than necessary.
Then gave a small shrug.
“Driving?”
The officer paused.
“…You were driving significantly below the speed limit and swerving slightly.”
“Oh.”
Silence.
“May I see your license and registration?”
Nia reached for her bag, her movements slower than usual as she pulled out what he asked for and handed it over.
The officer glanced at it briefly.
Then back at her.
“Have you had anything to drink tonight, Ms. Carter?”
Nia tilted her head slightly.
“Maybe.”
That was enough.
The officer exhaled slowly, already making his decision.
“I’m going to need you to step out of the vehicle.”
She frowned slightly.
“Is that necessary?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A pause.
Then—
“Okay.”
She stepped out carefully, the ground not feeling as steady as it should.
The officer watched her closely now.
Assessing.
Certain.
“I’m going to issue you a ticket,” he said, pulling out his notepad.
Nia nodded lazily. “Okay.”
She leaned slightly, her eyes drifting to his uniform.
Trying to focus.
Trying to read.
“D… Dou…” she squinted.
The officer glanced up briefly. “Is there a problem?”
Nia shook her head, then looked again.
“…Doucchhe?” she said slowly.
"It's officer Douche"
A small laugh slipped out.
Then another.
The officer’s expression hardened. “Excuse me?”
Nia covered her mouth briefly, trying—and failing—to stop herself from laughing.
“Nothing,” she said quickly, though it wasn’t convincing at all.
Silence.
Then—
“Officer… Doucchhe,” she repeated, the word coming out even worse this time.
That did it.
“Step to the side, ma’am.”
Her laughter faded slightly as she blinked at him.
“…What?”
“You are under arrest for driving under the influence.”
That cut through.
Not completely.
But enough.
Nia stared at him.
The words slow to land.
“Wait—”
“Turn around, please.”
For a moment, she didn’t move.
Then she let out a quiet breath.
The kind that almost sounded like defeat.
“Okay…”
The handcuffs clicked into place.
Cold.
Real.
The world felt sharper now.
Too sharp.
Her gaze dropped slightly, unfocused.
This wasn’t control.
This wasn’t fine.
And for the first time in a long time—
There was no way to pretend it was.
The flashing lights painted everything in red and blue.
Over and over again.
And Nia Carter—
The girl who had everything together—
Stood on the side of the road in silence…
As everything started to slip.
- Writer
