Escaping Reality
**Sarah**
Feeling my phone vibrate in the small party clutch, I quickly checked the sender before deciding whether to answer or not. I had just talked to Ryan a few minutes ago and assumed it wasn't him. My assumption was correct. Surprisingly, the caller was Kael, someone who hadn't tried to reach out to me in the past few days. I decided to ignore his call and added his number to the block list. However, I forgot to block messages, which soon started coming in.
*Kael: Where are you?
Kael: Why did you block me?
Kael: I know you did it!*
I found myself in a dilemma. Should I respond to Kael's incessant messages, which kept coming with the same questions? Blocking him for messages wasn't a viable option either, as I was still within the period where I had to report to him, with only two days left before the thirty-day deadline expired.
Looking at the lively club where Madison chose to celebrate her twenty-second birthday, I noticed the diverse crowd and the deafening noise, pushing my tolerance limits. However, I understood we were in a nightclub, and it was entirely normal for there to be so much noise, as well as people drinking and dancing. There were also couples displaying surprising intimacy, unconcerned about the presence of people around them. But I was already used to witnessing such scenes at the various parties Rachel and I used to attend, especially during our trips.
One intriguing aspect was the fact that Seattle was such a huge city, yet Madison chose the same nightclub where Rachel had been with Shirley on the fateful night she was drugged. I imagined that this club would be a trendy spot in the city.
"Why are you just standing there?" Madison asked, coming closer so I could hear her amidst the noise. "Let's have some fun, Sarah!"
"I am having fun," I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.
I had stepped away from the dance floor for a moment to take Ryan's call, my dear friend who wanted to coordinate our plans for the next day. Hearing the loud music, he immediately asked where I was, and I didn't see any problem in sharing the name of the place and what I was doing. We were friends, and I genuinely enjoyed his company.
"Well, it doesn't look like it! Come with me."
Madison grabbed my arm, pulling me back onto the dance floor, and started moving with more enthusiasm than coordination. I could only smile at her carefree attitude.
Watching my new friend enjoy herself, I decided to set aside thoughts about Kael and everything that was happening, simply embracing the moment. If he wanted me to be available for him today, after days of no contact, he should have given me advance notice as he always did.
Madison's friends were also on the dance floor, all of them having a good time, just like her. I was genuinely happy because despite being surrounded by her friends, she still made an effort to seek me out and include me in her fun.
Before we arrived at the club, I had already met all of them as they had arranged a little surprise for Madison, complete with a birthday cake and singing "Happy Birthday." Madison lived with two other friends in a small apartment, very close to the apartment my sister and I had rented after being evicted from our house.
This memory brought to mind the fact that Rachel had returned "that dump" - her words to refer to the place where we lived for over a month - and had sent all our belongings to the new apartment she bought with the auction money. But anyway, this wasn't the moment to dwell on the problems in my life and what I would do starting on Monday. Right now, the priority was enjoying the company of Madison and her friends, putting worries aside for a while.
I continued dancing with Madison, and when she called me to go get drinks, I readily agreed, ready to immerse myself in the moment and forget all the problems in my life.
At the bar, we tried to get drinks, but we were surrounded by people with the same goal. Just as I was about to give up and call Madison back to the dance floor, I noticed a handsome, brown-haired man with a friendly, big smile standing in front of me.
"What would you like to drink?" he asked, eliciting a smile from me. "I can get it for you."
His kind gesture and friendly demeanor put me at ease, so I responded with gratitude, "A mojito, please. Thank you very much!"
He approached the bartender, and to my surprise, he quickly managed to get our drinks. The man and Madison approached me simultaneously, he with the mojitos, handing one to me.
"I see you've already got your drink," Madison commented with a strange smile.
I sensed that she didn't like the presence of the stranger, so I quickly thanked the man and, after exchanging smiles, Madison and I returned to the dance floor. Since my twenty-first birthday when I tried alcohol for the first time and Rachel and I overdid it, resulting in a terrible hangover, I have avoided alcoholic drinks. However, that night, I decided to give it another shot, promising myself not to overindulge like last time.
The unknown man was soon close to us, and when he asked me to dance, I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation. Despite the music not being suitable for dancing up close, I was having a great time with the energy of the place and, of course, the company.
I continued dancing and having more fun than I could have imagined, savoring my drink in moderation. Not long after, to my surprise, Ryan was standing in front of me, with a broad smile on his face. I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the dance floor so we could talk.
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