For the past two years I’ve been rabidly following the fate of George Huguely who was convicted last week of second-degree murder of Yeardley Love. He killed her all right, viciously, but he was in a hard-core drunken stupor when he did it. Knowing too well from experience what a violent drunk he is, I can’t imagine Yeardley’s sheer terror when he kicked in her door in without anyone there to protect her. She weighed about half of of what he did, was wearing only underwear, and had a buzz herself — the poor girl didn’t stand a chance.
Unfortunately I never had the pleasure of meeting Yeardley, but she sounds like she was a phenomenal person whose only flaw was falling for Huguely a couple of years back. Just looking at her picture, you can tell what a friendly, fun-loving, kind person she was. Saying “what a waste” is the understatement of the year.
I can’t help but play the game of “If Only.”
If only she had gone out with her roommates that night.
If only her roommates had been home with her.
If only the front door of the apartment had been locked.
If only she had had time to lock herself in her bathroom with her phone.
If only he had not gotten wretchedly drunk with his father all day and evening long.
If only his father had reigned him in after he dropped a wine bottle on the floor during dinner.
If only his parents had reigned him in after his prior drunken and violent arrest that required him to be tasered.
If only his roommates didn’t (innocently) leave him alone to go on a beer run.
If only the friend downstairs was not busy writing a paper and could have hung out with him at 11:30.
If only one of those girls he had texted looking for “company” had taken him up on it.
If only he had called an ambulance.
If only he had quit drinking after almost choking her to death a while back while in a drunken rage.
If only he hadn’t found out she had a new love interest.
If only their family and friends didn’t have to suffer through this excruciating ordeal.
And the list goes on and on. It happened as it happened, and there is no way to change it. Even one if the jurors commented, “I wish it had never happened.”
If only it had never happened…
LibbY