Everything spiraled out of control for Alex. The last thing he remembered from the chaotic party was Miles grinning mischievously, shoving two shots of some dangerously strong liquor into his hands. “Come on, live a little,” Miles had said, his voice drowned out by the thumping bass of the club music. After that? Nothing. A complete blackout. And now… now he was lying in an unfamiliar bed next to a beautiful girl he didn’t even know.

It had started innocently enough. Miles dragged him to some nightclub, promising a fun night out before the madness of upcoming concerts kicked in. Alex agreed, thinking a couple of drinks would help him unwind. But somewhere along the line, things went off the rails. One drink turned into two, two into too many to count, and now here he was, staring at the ceiling with a pounding headache, regret coursing through his veins like poison.

The girl next to him was fast asleep, tangled in the sheets, her bare shoulders peeking out from beneath the thin blanket. She was wearing only lingerie. His pulse quickened as he glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror—hickeys on his neck and chest like damning evidence of last night’s reckless choices. His stomach twisted in knots. He had a girlfriend, Johanna. Sure, things had been rocky between them lately, but cheating? That wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him.

Desperation clawed at his chest. His head throbbed, and the bitter taste of guilt lingered in his mouth as he scrambled to find his phone, which had somehow ended up under the bed. His heart dropped when he saw the screen: 11 missed calls from Johanna. Panic surged through him, leaving him breathless and disoriented. The heat rushed to his face, sweat gathering at his temples. He looked like a mess, and the purple marks on his skin only made it worse. What had he done? What had he become in just one wild night.