50: RAINDROPS

The lights are blinding.

I stumble through the crowd of dancing bodies moving in slow motion. The bass of the loud party music reverberates into my skull like a drilling machine. My ears are ringing, my heartbeat in my throat.

I feel drunk. Maybe I am drunk.

I blink back dark dots that cloud my vision and try to remember how I got here, where I am, and what is going on. I look around, squinting, but every face is a blur, every item faded and inconsistent like I’ve been pumped full of hallucinogens.

It sounds like it’s raining outside.

I whip my head around, searching for a window, but I can’t see any.

“Come on, Bella!” Someone shouts over the music, and suddenly I’m being dragged by my arm towards what I can make out to be a stage. I try to pull away, but my body keeps moving. Around me people cheer, clap, and holler, adding to my disorientation.

The music slows and the next second I’m on the stage, holding on to a bouquet of tulips like it’s a lifeline. I squint when the spotlight sh