CHAPTER 5

STRANGER AT CLUB MIRAGE

Security grabs my arm, their grip rough against my skin. I twist, trying to free myself. “Let me go!” I scream, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Ma’am, please, we can’t” “Don’t touch me!” I cry out again, my voice cracking.

My eyes dart toward Daniel, desperate, searching for even a flicker of care, a word, anything. But he just stands there. Blank. Watching. Like I’m a stranger, like he doesn’t know me, like he didn’t just watch his wife being dragged out of his life in front of everyone. “Daniel!” I shout his name, but he doesn’t move.

They pull me down the hallway, past the muttering crowd, phones held up high like weapons, flashing red dots recording every shameful second. Outside, the glass doors slam shut behind me. The sound echoes in my head like the final click of a lock. I stumble to the car, my chest heaving. I slide into the driver’s seat and just sit there.

My hands tremble on the wheel. My reflection in the rearview mirror , messy hair, swollen eyes, full of shame . The first sob comes out quiet, almost a hiccup. Then another. Then i break open,ugly, raw. I bury my face in my hands and cry until I can barely breathe. Images now flashing through my mind , I had just made a scene at skybound . I swipe at my face with shaky hands, but the tears won’t stop.

People walking by glance at me, some still recording from across the lot, probably uploading it already. I feel hollow. Helpless.

When I finally turn the key, the car hums to life. I drive, I don’t even know where I’m going. I just drive away. Away from the building, away from his silence, away from myself. The sky turns soft orange, then bruised purple, and still I drive. The city lights blur past me like streaks of gold and red.

By the time I stop, it’s evening. Neon lights glow above the sign: Club Mirage — Open 24/7. I park and sit for a moment, staring at the doors. My hands smell faintly of his cologne, and that’s what finally pushes me out. I walk inside , dragging my feet. The bass hits first, deep, heavy, vibrating through the floor. The air smells like alcohol, perfume, and loneliness.

I slide onto a stool at the bar. “What’ll it be?” the bartender asks. “Something strong,” I say quietly. He nods and pours. “Rough night?” he asked, i let out a bittersweet laugh,. “You could say that.” The first drink burns my throat. The second numbs it. By the third, I’m just watching people , couples laughing, strangers grinding, the world spinning like it doesn’t care who I am.

I pick up my phone and go through the messages I had sent Daniel earlier, no response still. But it says read this time . I battle in my head , do I send a message or not ? . In defeat, I keep the phone down . I feel empty , lonely. I signal the bartender for more drinks , 3 more cups and now I feel a little numb to the pain .

Then I feel it ,a gaze, like someone's watching me. I turn slightly and see him. He’s leaning against the bar’s far corner , dark hair, just like Daniel’s, stubble, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Staring at my exposed thighs, I pull down the shirt trying to cover them . When our eyes meet, he doesn’t look away.He raises his glass slightly, a silent toast. I roll my eyes and turn back to my drink.

I feel him walk up to me. “This is the hottest outfit I’ve ever seen in a club” he says, his voice low, almost careful. I glance sideways and I don’t say anything. He smiled, and for a second, I caught it , that familiar curve Daniel used to have when he found something funny. But it wasn’t him. His smile didn’t make my chest warm. It just reminded me of everything I’d lost.

“Another drink ?” he says with a smirk, I nod . He passed me another drink, and our fingers brushed. I should’ve pulled away. But his touch felt steady, and mine… mine were trembling . The air smelled like cologne and whiskey. My head felt heavy, my heart even heavier.

I kept seeing Daniel’s face. Now, even remembering it hurt . He leaned closer, saying something I didn’t catch . I’m zoned out , I didn’t care. I was tired of caring. His breath was warm against my cheek. I could’ve stopped him. I didn’t. Maybe I wanted to feel wanted again , or maybe I just wanted to forget.

I turned to him , his face close to mine now , our eyes lock, his eyes wanting, I keep seeing Daniel’s face, his eyes when he used to look at me like I was the only one in the room. He grabs my hands softly. And I let him. The warmth of his touch flow through my skin, like it was comforting the something inside me.He asked

“ You want some air ?” He asked , The air smelled like cologne and whiskey. I nod ,he then pulls me out of the stool , I follow him , I don’t know why, but I just did. Outside, the night air was warm and thick,wrapping around me like a lie,smelling of rain and cigarette smoke.

“Do you want to get out of here ? , I can take you somewhere quiet” he asked still holding my hands. I glance toward my car in the parking lot , my keys still in my purse. “I’ll come back for it,” I muttered, more to myself than to him . He smiled like he’d won something. He opened his car door, and I slid in without thinking.

The seat was warm, music, low, he came in too and smiled at me . I smile back , he starts the car , his hands on the staring wheel , not like Daniel’s , his arms chiseled, he places them on my thighs , while the other controlled the steering , I didn’t pull it away , his hands slide higher, slow, deliberate, my breath catches . I don’t stop him ….