Adrian stumbled into the bathroom of The Lion’s Den, barely managing to get the door shut before he threw up the contents of his stomach into the toilet. No longer able to stand up, he collapsed onto the floor. He was only allowed a couple moments rest before another wave a nausea came over him, causing him to reach for the toilet again.

After an excruciating five minutes of on and off vomiting and dry heaving, Adrian flopped onto the nasty floor and closed his eyes - he was way to dizzy to even keep his eyes open. His rich, brown hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat, and he had vomit smeared around his mouth. His cheeks were hallow and dark circles formed under his eyes. He wasn’t sleeping. He wasn’t eating. But he sure as hell had been drinking. He had come to the Lion’s Den almost every night since he found out his wife had been cheeting on him. For three years. Three fucking years! Isn’t that something? He felt a sharp pain in his heart every time his mind wandered to the subject. Which is now why he has become quite found of drinking; it just numbs the pain away. Not a long term solution, he knows that, but he hasn’t made any moves to find something else. So drinking it is.

Moaning, he pulled himself off the tiled floor, the room swaying as he stood upright. Adrian went to the sink to splash his face with water and fix is hair, even though most of the others at the bar were probably as drunk and disheveled as him.

His face dripping, Adrian waved his hand furiously in front of the peper towel dispenser until it kindly delivered him one, and dried his face. Tossing the paper in the trash, he looked up at the mirror to check his appearance. But something wasn’t quite right.

He couldn’t see his reflection in the mirror.

“What the…” Adrian examined the mirror, and he observed tiny ripples going up and down the glass. Confused, he gave his eyes a hard rub, thinking it was just the alcohol. But the ripples remained. And it was mesmerizing. After a moment he waved his hand in front of it again just to see if, by some chance, his reflection would reapear. But it didn’t. He tilted his head slightly, his face inching closer to the mirror - or whatever it was.

Shaking, he lifted up his hand and held it in front of the moving glass. His head pounded, he felt a tug, he wanted to touch it. No, he _needed_ to touch it.

Suddenly there was three rapid knocks from outside door.

Adrian jumped out of the trance and anxiously looked towards the door.

“Uh, someone’s in here.”

“Yeah, no shit dude, that’s why I’m out here instead of in there taking a piss.”

Ignoring the man’s angered tone, his focas returned to the thing on the wall. “Just a second,” he said, once again starring intently at the mirror. He held up his hand again, and this time, slowly moved his pointer finger towards the wavy glass until his finger went through and dissapeard. He jerked back his finger, squelling, and stumbled backwards nearly falling to the floor.

“What the hell are you doing in there, man? If you’re jerking off can you hurry it up!”

Adrian ignored the man outside. His head throbbing, and his eyes wide, he made his way back toward the mirror - no, the portal. Yes, that’s what it was, a portal. He was afriad, but there was this overhmeling feeling of awe and curiosity. Barley blinking, he traced his finger over it, not quite putting them through, and watched the water like substance make a wake behind his finger.

It was the most amazing thing he’s ever seen. The transluecent color, like the clearest of waters, it gently waving up and down like one of those fun mirrors in a carnival.

He put his palm parrarel to it and pushed is hand through until his arm below the elbow was gone. He waved it around, grasping at anything, trying to see if anything was there. The was nothing to grasp, put he felt a cool breeze brush his hand. It was crisp, gentle. A warm sensation climbed up his arm, a slight tingling along with it. He breathed in deeply and felt himself relax, the stress of the last couple weeks melting away.

He felt something land on his hand. Careful not to let it fall, he pulled his arm back out, and on the back of his hand was the most beautiful buterfly he had ever seen. Its wings were almost translucent; they were a mix of blue and purple, the edges stained darker than the rest. It looked as its wings were carefully painted by an artist, blending the colors together to make the most enchanting color he had ever seen.

The pounding on the door started again, startling the creature who then flew back through the portal. Adrian shoved is arm throught it again, hoping for it to land on his hand once more.

“Hey! I’m not kidding, if you’re not out here in ten seconds, I’m gonna break the damn door down, you here me!”

“Shit shit shit,” Adrian whispered in frusteration.

He knew what he wanted to do. He had nothing here. No wife, no kids. His job sucked, and was on the verge of getting fired anyway because of his “severe drinking probem”. He had friends, sure, but they were mostly his wife’s - or soon to be ex-wife. It didn’t matter.

He stood infront of the portal and jumped up and down shaking out his limbs, rolling his neck, and puffing his breath in and out.

“Ten, nine, eight.” The man started counting down.

"Seven, six, five.” He had to do this now. Something inside him told him it would close and never open again if he didn’t go now. Like it had opened up just to him, _for _him.

“four, three…better hurry buddy.”

The warm tinggling was now through his whole body, the pull toward the portal growing.

“two.”

He looked around the room, excitment and fear overwhelming his senses. He clenched his fists.

“One!”

Adrian jumped on top of the counter, knocking the soap off, and dove headfirst into the unkown.