Several months back, my sister and I went to this party together. I had just turned 16 and had just gotten my license. Anyway, someone brought alcohol to the party, and we both got really trashed. By the time things were winding down, she thought she was good to drive though, so I didn’t argue when she got behind the wheel. I just got into the passenger seat without a word. Big mistake. During the drive home, she tried to take a sharp turn a little too fast and ended up running off the road and into a tree.

I was okay, because I had my seat belt on. My sister didn’t though, and she went face-first into the steering wheel and broke her nose. She was crying and in a lot of pain. We got out of the car and were trying to figure out what to do next when we heard sirens. Someone had seen the accident and called 911. I felts so bad for her. If the cops realized she’d been drinking, she’d be arrested and have an adult record, since she’d just turned 18. I figured she didn’t need that on top of her car being wrecked and her nose being broken. Plus, she planned on enlisting in the army, and obviously those plans would be up in smoke. So, I told her I’d say I’d been driving. Even if the cops figured out I’d been drinking, I’d only have a juvenile record. She argued with me but eventually agreed just before the cops arrived. Long story short, I ended up getting arrested that night and charged with DWI and vehicular assault (on account of her nose). I spent the rest of the weekend in juvenile detention before going to court on Monday morning where I was released to my parents’ custody until my next hearing. Needless to say, my sister and I were grounded for a long damn time after that.

Fast forward to Friday. I was in court again, this time to learn my fate. I thought that since I didn’t have a record, the judge would go easy on me. Maybe give me probation with community service. Wrong. The judge sentenced me to six months in juvenile detention. The only reason I’m not there right now is because I had a job, so the judge gave me the weekend to put my notice in and otherwise get my affairs in order. Tomorrow, I have to report to the detention center to begin serving my sentence.

Look, I own the fact that we were both stupid for drinking that night and for trying to get home by ourselves. No one needs to tell me that. I really screwed myself good that night. In addition to my sentence, I lost my license and my boyfriend. His parents demanded that he break up with me following my arrest. I was also thrown off the softball team at school. And speaking of school, which starts in a week, I’m obviously going to be missing half a year’s worth. I’ll probably end up having to get a GED instead of graduating with my friends.

Since court, I’ve been wrestling with whether or not I did the right thing in taking the rap. I guess in a way it doesn’t matter; I’ll be going to juvie regardless. But considering how much this is costing me, I can’t help but wonder. What do you think? Did I do the right thing? I honestly don’t know. All I know for sure is my sister is super grateful for what I did. She’s since enlisted and is looking forward to basic training. We eventually told our parents what really happened that night. They were mad, but seem content to let me deal with the consequences of my decision. They’re not demanding my sister fess up to the cops at any rate. Like I said, I really hope I made the right choice here. And I should be able to have my record sealed eventually, so this won’t haunt me for the rest of my life.