I can smell cigarette smoke. I’m laying on a dirty, hard carpeted floor. I try to open my eyes but they are so heavy and my vision is blurry. I hear a mans voice but I cannot make sense of what is being said. I try to get up, trying to push myself up onto my hands and knees. My body is so heavy. What happened? How did I get here?

“Should I wear the blue one or the purple one?” I remembered asking Jan. She had responded with her typical eye roll followed by a comment about the dresses’ similar patterns. I had stepped outside onto the side walk and had gotten into a black sedan.

I can taste blood. I am so tired but I feel I must find the strength to get up. Something is very wrong. What happened?

“Where would you like to go? I was thinking the Dog?” He asked glancing over at me for moment as we pulled away from my apartment.

“The Dog sounds great!” I remember exclaiming. “I prefer the dive bars around here to the downtown scene if I’m being honest.”

“Downtown is a different atmosphere for sure. Not to mention all the weirds get tossed out of the bars at 2 AM and start wondering around drunk trying to figure out where to go next.” He had responded so casually. “We can get a bite to eat at the Dog too. Have you had their wings?”

“They are the only wings in town I like” I had responded unable to hide my excitement for the evening. We had met 1 month earlier at Mack’s one Saturday night while I was out with Jan. He was so cool. He exudes confidence. the kind of cool confidence that makes you want to be around them, be there friend. I wouldn’t mind being more then just his friend but that would complicate things.

I manage to pick my head up an inch or two from the carpet. I see what looks like dirty walls and boxes of clutter. Get up. You need to get up. I struggle to pull my chest up off the ground, supporting myself on my arms. I hear talking. What is being said? Where am I?

I had ordered a gin and tonic and he ordered a beer.

“How about a shot?” He had asked.

“What were you thinking?” I inquired.

“Nothing to hard. How about a green tea?” He had suggested.

“Sure!” I remember replying enthusiastically. Jan would have advised against shots or drinking hard liquer on a first date but I just hate to disappoint. I wanted him to like me. I needed him to like me. In the wake of my spat with Nick, I just wanted someone to want me.

I manage to crawl over to a stack of boxes, using them to pull myself up. I struggle to get my feet under me before I stumble away from the boxes and grab onto a pole in the center of the room. It’s dark here with a light at one end of the room and stairs? Are those stairs? Am I in a basement?

I had stood up and excused myself to the ladies room. Thats when I felt it. Dizzy and buzzed. Maybe I shouldn’t have downed my drink so quickly. As gracefully as I could, I had navigated my way to the restroom. I felt sick by the time I made it there. I’ve never puked after drinknig that little. This date had not gone as planned. When I emerged and headed back to our seats at the bar I remeber saw a familiar figure. Nick. He was yelling and carrying on.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Nick yelled.

“It’s just drinks, man. Calm down.”

“Nick!” I yelled, “You need to calm down. Don’t make a scene.”

“You going to start seeing other guys everytime we have a fight?” Nick had demanded looking me up and down. Something about his temper and possessiveness in that moment was appealing to me.

“I bumped into Brett earlier and he suggested taking me out for drinks to cheer me up.” I had responded trying to speak slowly and clearly without slurring my words.

Nick was pissed. He grabbed Brett and tossed him out of his seat before landing a blow to his right eye.

I hear foot steps coming down stairs. They must be stairs. I feel like I have exhausted all of my energy. “Finally awake are we?” I hear. I cannot respond. My mouth is so dry and my head is killing me.