It was already midnight, but I was still at the bar, nursing my glass like I had nowhere else to be.

I ordered another round of bottles, then another, with the bartender smiling as he dropped them.

"Thank you", I said, smiling at him.

I kept refilling my glass, the cool burn sliding down easily. Each sip loosened something inside me, turning the night into an electric one.

The thrill wasn’t just about the alcohol, it was the reckless excitement building with every pour. I felt so good.

I watched reflections move across the glass behind the counter.

The city looked beautiful and colorful, and people kept trooping into the...