"Cheers to me" Ashley said to herself as she took her fifth shot of the night.
The birthday party for her best friend Sam was winding down with only a handful of people left at the house. It was a big party at Sam's house that she just got as a 25th birthday present from her parents, celebrating her new promotion at her job. While Ashley was happy for her friend, she also took a long look at her own life: struggling to pay rent on a shoddy 1 bedroom apartment, with no boyfriend for the last year after a messy breakup.
Sam, meanwhile, seemed to have it all going for her, as her boyfriend of four years was sitting with her on the couch, talking with Sam's aunt and uncle about the new house.
"I need another drink" Ashley thought to herself, already struggling to stay upright. She went into the kitchen, where another mutual friend of hers and Sam's, Madison, was talking with Sam's cousin Jessica.
"Geez girl, don't you think you've had enough?" Madison said as Ashley stumbled in.
"Meh" She mumbled as she waved her friend off to get to the tequila.
"Listen, you've had way too much. I've seen you put away half this bottle already! I'm helping pour one last shot and that's it. You're cut off."
Ashley sighed, whined, and mumbled something along the lines of "Fine" before Madison poured her a final shot.
"Thamks!" Ashley got out before pouring the shot into her mouth. After a loud "Ahhhhh" she stood up and mumbled "Imma go siddown now. K, bye"
The inebriated girl managed to make it to the recliner situated in the living room, away from most of the people in the party, before feeling her eyes close slowly.
Before she passed out fully, she remembered feeling a moment of intense heat wash over her.