A sip and a drag is all it takes

It's funny how one thing can change your life completely.
One day you're on top of the world,
the next, your hopes and dreams are shot.

It was a normal game,
the score was tied,
just one more touchdown and he'd be the hero.

Sixteen seconds on the clock,
the play is called,
the quarterback tosses him the ball.

Just three yards away,
he could smell the success,
he had made it to the goal,
that's when things folded for the worst.

Though they had one the game,
his career was lost,
two players landed on his leg,
his future had to pay this unfortunate cost.

A senior in highschool,
and his bone is replaced with a metal pole,
his scholarships for football,
were shattered for good.

Now it's three years later,
he's no longer in school,
didn't bother with college,
goes all over New England for work.

Why didn't he try to go on with school?
After the football incident, he needed something to ease his pain.
The sip of alcohol, was almost instantly an addiction.
His mind went to waste,
what a fate so cruel.

It started with a sip,
became several six packs a day.
He also discovered cigarettes as another way.

Wouldn't it be great,
if we could just turn back time?
Before the addictions, before the life altering game,
I guess it's part of life,
but he just isn't the same.