METANOIA

Chapter 4

Eric tipped the beer bottle to his lips, his Adam's apple bobbing with each hesitant swallow.

I on the other hand, had polished off my first can in record time.

The bitterness barely registered on my tongue, another can materialized in my hand, a silent offering from someone lost in the pulsating crowd.

Three gulps, that's all it took this time. I slammed the empty can onto a nearby table, the metallic clang swallowed by the throbbing music.

A cheer erupted around me, but it sounded distant, muffled by the growing fog in my head.

Eric, struggling to keep pace with my relentless consumption, finally finished his second bottle, sputtering, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His competitive smirk gave way to a sheepish grin as he raised his empty bottle in mock surrender, conceding defeat.

"Alright, alright," he wheezed, laughter bubbling up from his chest. "You win, Mahab. You win."

But the victory tasted like ash in my mouth. The cheers of the crowd were meaningless background noise.
Laughter and shouts competed with the thumping music. My gaze remained fix at Ethan and his gaze fixed on Veronica tearing up the dance floor in a red dress that clung to her curves. A familiar pang of jealousy stabbed at my heart, fueled by the generous amount of beer I've already consumed.
I pushed my way through the throng of dancing bodies, Sonia and Jenny weaving drunkenly behind me. A couple, lost in a passionate kiss blocked my path. With a muttered apology, I shoved them apart, eliciting a string of curses from the bewildered couple.

Veronica, completely lost in the rhythm, shimmied and twirled with surprising grace. I couldn't deny she was good, but the alcohol in my system and the sight of Ethan's captivated gaze filled me with a bitter resentment.

I called out over the top of my lungs, "Hey bitch come down here!" Veronica looked at me in confusion and said, "what?"

"I said get down here bitch" and pulled her down the dance floor.

The music thrummed through my body, an irresistible current. With a playful wiggle, I hopped onto the large table, the polished surface cool against my bare feet.

Laughter bubbled up, light and carefree. This is my moment, and I started dancing with my heart on my sleeve. With my arms flung wide, I spun, my laughter echoing through the room.

Jenny, Sonia, and Ethan watched, their movements more subdued. I, caught Ethan's eye, gestured naughtily towards him. "Come on, slowpoke!" I teased, a playful glint in my eyes.

Ethan, with a casual shrug and a smile, joined me on the table. The close proximity sent a jolt through me, a welcome distraction from the dull ache building behind my eyes. I wrapped my arms around his neck. My body swayed to the beat, molding itself to Ethan's in a silent conversation only we understood.

Our laughter mingled, and as the music swelled, Ethan leaned in. His face was close, his breath warm against my cheek. This was it, the moment I'd dreamt of, a kiss waiting to happen.

But the merriment began to sour. The warmth that had filled me turned into a dull throb behind my eyes. The room started to tilt, and a wave of nausea washed over me. My stomach lurched, shattering the spell. I stumbled back, my hand flying to my mouth.

"Ugh, I don't feel so good," I mumbled, my voice thick with sudden sickness.
Ethan's smile faltered, replaced by concern.  Disappointment flickered in his eyes for a fleeting moment, but it was quickly replaced by worry.  "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Needing a breath of fresh air, I excused myself, my head swimming as I stumbled towards the open door. Cool night air slapped my flushed cheeks, a welcome relief.

Unexpectedly, I spotted some illumination in the near distance, a beacon in the growing darkness. The laughter from the party faded as I descended the steps, gasping for air, I stumbled towards the source of the light.
Headlights sliced through the darkness, growing larger by the second.

Panic clawed at my throat. The car, a menacing blur, seemed to veer towards me, headlights like predator eyes.
Terror locked my legs in place. Every instinct screamed at me to run, yet my feet remained rooted to the spot. Frozen, I squeezed my eyes shut, surrendering myself to Destiny. A scream clawed its way up my throat, but died there unvoiced.