Christopher

I gulped whiskey straight from the bottle, feeling the burn as it coursed through my veins. My reflection in the mirror before me appeared dull and disconnected.

A ragged cough escaped my lips, and I took another swig, savoring the fire in my throat.

At that moment, the door creaked open, and Mona slipped in, her eyes wide with anxiety. She approached tentatively, handing me the cigarette I had requested. I snatched it from her fingers and swiftly lit it, inhaling deeply.

"Thanks," I muttered, smoke escaping my lips.

Mona's gaze flickered toward the other room after she heard cries of pleas and noises, her brow creasing with concern....