CHAPTER 1 – The Party

February 12, 2016 started like any other Friday.

Nothing strange.
Nothing special.

Although I was in a particularly good mood.

Deadpool was coming out that day, and since the morning, at university, we talked about nothing else. I was studying architecture, so we spent way too much time together: long classrooms, tables stained with glue, unfinished models, endless deadlines, all-nighters that left us stupid and happy at the same time. Between classes, in the hallways, while waiting for the professor, we replayed trailers, exaggerated scenes, made bad jokes, made fun of everything.

Life felt light.
Predictable.

I was more excited than the rest because I already had my plan: going to the movies with my brother in the afternoon.

And later that night, it was a friend’s birthday. There was a party.

That’s what many Fridays were like: university, laughter, movies, cheap alcohol, bar hopping when possible. Nothing extreme. Nothing out of control. Life moving forward without asking permission.

Nothing that made me think everything could break in a matter of hours.

In the afternoon I went to the movies with my brother. The film left us laughing like when we were kids: bumping shoulders as we left the theater, repeating lines, exaggerating scenes as if we didn’t want to let them go yet. One of those simple moments that feel solid. Stable. Like everything was in its place.

I ran up the stairs when we got home. I was already late.

I went straight to my parents’ room. They were both there.

—Hey, I’m going to a party. It’s a friend’s birthday —I said from the doorway, without fully stepping inside.

My dad looked at me for a second. Not with suspicion. More like he was measuring something he couldn’t quite explain.

—What time will you be back?

—I don’t know… later. I’ll text you.

My mom looked up.

—Have your brother take you and let me know when you arrive.

—Okay.

Nothing else.
Just that.
The way you say things you believe will always repeat themselves.

My brother drove me. The ride was short, normal, one of those you don’t remember because nothing stands out. He dropped me off at the entrance of the complex where my friend lived: a large black gate. To the side, a small booth with a slightly bored security guard. A few houses lined up on a slope, lit by yellow lights that barely cut through the night. From there, you could already hear the music, muffled, vibrating in the air.

The party was all the way in the back: a house with two gardens connected by stone stairs.

—Good evening, I’m going to Andrés Cervantes’ place.

The guard opened the gate without really looking at me.

Inside, everything was noise and movement. Shouting. Hugs. Raised cups. Music I don’t remember what it was. Alex, as always, clinked his can against mine.

—Let’s go, man.

The vibe was light. Laughter. Everyone talking at once.

I started drinking.
One beer.

That’s it.

And then it happened.

A brief dizziness.
Sharp.

As if the floor moved just a centimeter.
Not enough to fall.
Enough to notice.

My stomach tightened a bit.
My head felt strange, hollow.

Not like getting dizzy from drinking.
More like something wasn’t properly in place.

I took out my phone and called my mom.

—Mom… I got dizzy.

Note: this is an excerpt. I’ll publish other parts of the chapter later.