Silent Eyes

44, Intoxicating

The place was buzzing with people, and music was blasting. Monica and her friends were tearing up the dance floor, sipping on their drinks. Monica, a little tipsy, was drowning her thoughts in alcohol. Everyone was cheering for her impending marriage, but her stomach felt uneasy. Little did they know, she hadn't spilled the beans to Roy that she and Andreas were still not officially divorced.

She was on the brink of divorcing him, so it's not like she was holding onto the marriage out of lingering feelings. Around that time, Andreas was overseas, caught up in his own things, and Monica was hustling at the call center, juggling work, childcare, and household chores. The whole divorce settlement slipped their minds, and they just stopped discussing it.

Even though she went by Ms. Warren in her daily life, legally, she was still Mrs. Samaras.

Since Roy dropped to one knee and popped the question, Monica's been feeling awful. She wanted to decline the ring and hold off, but they'd been together for two years, and Roy seemed eager to tie the knot and build a family. He'd even spilled the beans to her parents, who then informed Marcus, adding to the excitement. Now, with everyone in the loop, the pressure was mounting on Monica. She felt trapped, unsure of her next move!

Should she take Roy aside and spill the truth? "Hey, Roy, I've been doing some serious thinking. Maybe now isn't the best time for us to tie the knot..." But the thought of breaking his heart stopped her cold. Her dad would probably give her the disapproving dad stare, and her friends and family might start eyeing her like she's from another planet. Monica wasn't keen on dealing with all that drama! She'd already faced the fallout from her time with Andreas, and back then, she wasn't even sure if she'd ever mend things with her parents!

Monica found solace in another glass of alcohol, downing it swiftly. A cousin shot her a sideways glance, and to maintain the charade, Monica forced a wide grin, playing the part of the ecstatic bride-to-be. "I'm over the moon for you!" Brittany exclaimed, beaming. "My darling cousin is on her way to becoming a stunning bride!" Brittany was talking as if this were Monica's first trip down the aisle, conveniently forgetting about her past wedding in Greece. Monica kept quiet, offering only a chuckle. "Yeah," she added, her voice strained, "can't believe it myself..."

They shared a hug, and soon, Brittany disappeared to hit the dance floor with some guy. Left alone, Monica leaned into her hand. The drinks were taking a toll, making her feel queasy, yet she kept downing them one after another. It seemed like the only thing numbing her stress was the alcohol, and she craved more. After five, or maybe eight (she had lost count), glasses, Monica was completely wasted! The bartender finally shook his head, signaling that she had reached her limit. Frustrated, she mumbled under her breath and wobbled off to find her friends. However, in her unsteady state, she collided with someone nearby.

"Whoa!" a voice called out. Monica found herself on all fours on the floor, lazily looking up to see a man towering over her. He crouched down, offering a hand. "You okay?" he smiled. In a daze, she took his hand, attempted to stand, but ended up collapsing again. He took charge, helping her up, but his hand hovered a little too close to her ass, and his lips teased her neck. "You're really sexy," he whispered. There was something about him that reminded her of Andreas, and she giggled, clearly deep into her intoxication. "You always say that!"

He slid an arm around her, and they moved toward the dancefloor, swaying to the rhythm. Over the blaring music, he shouted, "What's your name, babe?" Monica chuckled, blinking in confusion. "Why are you asking when you already know?" The man looked puzzled until it finally dawned on him that she was completely plastered and possibly hung up on someone else. Still, he opted for a good time and played along. "My bad," he teased, giving her a playful squeeze on the ass. "Wasn't thinking for a second."