𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 ║𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

[Chapter Summary] With your therapist's recommendation, you treat yourself to a concert at the Santa Carla Boardwalk.

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Echoing in your ears was the sound of your shot glass as you slammed it down on your bedroom vanity. You had just taken your third shot of Smirnoff Peach Lemonade Vodka, and you were now struggling to get the winged eyeliner on your left eye to match the right. You cursed in frustration as you stared at yourself in the mirror.

You were almost ready for the concert at the Santa Carla Boardwalk, but you refused to leave until your makeup was just right. Checking the time on your phone, you realized that if you didn't get moving, you'd be late, and you didn't want to pass up an opportunity to see your favorite rapper, Tech N9ne.

"I guess they'll just have to be cousins instead of twins," you grumbled.

Your Uber driver was 5 minutes away, and you didn't want to be rude, so you poured yourself one last shot and downed it. You grabbed your phone, keys, and purse after. Petting your cat, Queen, goodbye as you head out the door.

"See you later, gorgeous, don't wait up," you teased the fluffy-white ball of fur at the foot of your bed as you made your way downstairs.

Before officially heading out, you surveyed yourself in the mirror by the door. Tonight's outfit pleased you. Under your black studded leather jacket, you wore a form-fitting little black dress with a pair of open-toe heels. You wore your (H/c) in a messy bun on top of your head.

Your face was beat to the gods besides your busted eyeliner – your (color) lipstick and matching mani-pedi complimenting your (S/c) skin. You didn't look like a snack; you looked like a meal. Maybe tonight, you'd get lucky. You deserved some action – to have some fun.

It's been two years since you buried your fiancé, (F/n). He was murdered, robbed, and gunned down by an unknown assailant. The monster then callously abandoned his body in Leakin Park, a once beautiful park but now an infamous dumping ground for murderers in Baltimore. His death broke you nearly beyond repair.

(F/n) was the love of your life, and he was ripped away from you cruelly before you two wed. You still wore your engagement ring. The thought of removing it continued to be unbearable. (F/n) was your best friend and confidant. He brought you out of your shell.

Despite your quick wit and flair for fashion, you were a closet introvert. You loved to dance and party, but it took a particular person to break down your defenses and encourage you to let loose. Your friends managed to pull you out of your bubble on occasion, but your fiancé was THAT person – he was charismatic.

Sitting in the back of your Uber, you internally applauded yourself for leaving your comfort zone and trying to be social again. Your new therapist recommended it during one of your sessions. When you were mourning, you had become severely withdrawn – isolating yourself from friends, family, and coworkers. You chose to be emotionally available to your students only.

You loved children, and you enjoyed being a teacher. At one point in time, you also yearned to be a mother. That wasn't in the cards anymore, however, given the circumstances.

Teaching was the next best thing. Your students adored you. Sometimes, that was the only thing that helped you cope with the pain – besides partying. Partying was always one of your favorite things to do with close friends. You had even met (F/n) at a mutual friend's party.

But after his death, you had fallen down a path of ruin, with drugs and alcohol no longer being the occasional party favor or a treat on holiday but becoming a daily occurrence. Now you partied to soothe the pain – taking shots, smoking weed, and popping pills to keep yourself from crumbling.