The first sip, a dare, a laugh, then the world blurred, softened at the edges. Suddenly, every insecurity, every awkward moment, just floated away. Weekends became a quest, for the next party, the next bottle. Sneaking sips from parents’ cabinets, the bitter taste of stolen freedom. My breath, a secret I couldn’t hide. School felt like a different planet. Faces swam in and out of focus. Grades slipped, friendships frayed, but the haze was a comfort, a shield against everything. Every promise to myself, shattered by the end of the day. The shakes, the sweats, the constant thirst, a silent scream inside my head. Alone in a crowded room, even with my friends, I was alone. The mirror showed a stranger, eyes too old, too tired. A kid trying to outrun something I couldn’t name, with a bottle in my hand