Riane stumbled out of the car, her balance swaying as her co-workers bid her farewell. Their drunken laughter faded into the night as their driver pulled away, leaving her alone on the quiet residential street. The cool night air brushed against her flushed skin, a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from her body. Her cheeks burned with both alcohol and the emotional turmoil churning inside her.

She clutched her purse tightly, fingers fumbling as she tried to maintain composure while approaching her front door. The sound of her heels clicking against the pavement echoed in the silence, each step a struggle against the dizziness threatening to overwhelm her. After several attempts, her unsteady hand finally managed to insert the key into the lock and turn it.

Pushing the door open, she nearly stumbled inside before catching herself against the doorframe. Leaning heavily against the cool wood, she let out a weary sigh, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts. The house greeted her with an oppressive silence that seemed to amplify every sound - the click of the door closing, the rattle of her keys as she dropped them, the unsteady thud of her footsteps on the hardwood floor.

The kitchen was dimly lit by moonlight streaming through the window as she stumbled toward the sink. Without bothering to turn on the lights, she leaned over the cool porcelain basin, gripping its edges tightly as the room spun around her. Bile rose in her throat, and she couldn't hold back the violent retching that followed, the sound echoing through the empty house.