CH

voice filled with concern. "Please, stay here. Spend the night,

ing to force a smile

n't want to be a burde

y. "You can never be a burden, Rachael. Don't b

ing at Ethan, who

e steady. "You shouldn't be alone right n

of the whiskey. I need to drown my sorrows. I can't sleep, even if I tried. Let

ith Amy, but after a moment of he

ck. We can go to his parents' hou

hanks, Ethan, but I'll take it from here. You've already

urn is immediate, but this time, it feels numb compared to the ache in my ches

heartbreak, it all starts to fade, swallowed by the warm numbness of alcohol. The edges of th

ghts blur together, and before I kno

pounding like a drum. It takes a m

an's house. I had drunk way too much last night, trying to drown out the chaos of my life. But the hango

Jack's parents before they leave for work, I need to get moving. My head throbs with every move

hall. The smell of coffee hits me as I enter the kitche

up early," I mutter

Ethan replies, barely l

arily distracted. "I thoug

do. But deadlines are deadlin

e company a few years back, and now he is one of the most successful people I know. He didn't have to wak

ce breaks through my thou

lutching my head. "My head is killing me. Bu

without thinking and immediately regret it. "Fuck!" I yelp, pull

you'd take a giant sip like

n. It is the first time I have laugh since yesterday. Well, since y

he mug down carefully. "Jack's parents live outside the c

asks, her brow furrowed in concer

ng a weak smile. "I'll

Instead, she stands and motions for me to follow her

ugh her closet, eventually handing me a

she says, giving m

tting the hot water wash away the lingering remnants of the night before. By the time I was dr

e the rest of the coffee. "Keep

an I feel. I grab my bag and keys and pause at the d

acing with the unknowns ahead. Jack's parents. Would they know where he was? Would they even tell me if th

to fin