Jared

After suggesting to my parents that we cancel the engagement, their refusal to listen only fueled the anger boiling inside me. The tension in the air was palpable as I watched Elara step out, a radiant vision of beauty. My heart sank as I saw my dad approach her, taking her hand in his and sharing a smile that seemed so genuine. I felt invisible in that moment, the weight of my bottled emotions pushing me to slip away unnoticed. I couldn't bear to fake the happy smiles that danced on her lips, smiles I knew were just as fragile as my own.

hurried to the car, my heart racing, and drove straight home. The house felt eerily empty as I made my way to the wine cellar. My fingers wrapped around a bottle of high-proof whiskey, a temptation I rarely indulged in. I downed the bottle in reckless abandon, feeling the warmth spread through me. Tonight, the house was an empty shell—my parents wouldn't return until tomorrow, and Elara would be far away if everything went to plan. Well, everything would go smoothly; after all, what could possibly go wrong? I raised the bottle to my lips and swallowed half of it in one bold gulp. Within moments, the world around me blurred; I could barely count my fingers, my worries evaporating into nothing.

As I staggered out to the lawn, a sudden sound jolted me from my stupor. Was that Elara? My thoughts were muddled as my body swayed with the gentle breeze. She closed the distance between us, her words a soft murmur before she unexpectedly slapped my face. The sting shocked me from my drunken haze, and I instinctively followed her as she turned to leave. I gripped the door, desperate to keep her from shutting me out, and stepped inside as she entered. I poured more drinks down my throat until everything faded to black.

I finally woke, I found myself in my room, shirt soaked with the unmistakable scent of whiskey. I peeled it off and rushed to the wash basin, cold water splashing on my face as I attempted to piece together the fragments of the night before. All I could remember was entering Elara's room. After drying off, I glanced at my phone—11:00 PM. I muttered to myself, *I'm never touching that bottle again.*