Ava gripped the table in front of her, her knuckles white as she struggled to keep herself upright. Her vision blurred, the world around her warped into a haze of bright lights and pounding music. Each breath felt shallow, a desperate attempt to fill her lungs, but the air seemed too thin, slipping away before it could reach her.
Her head spun. She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to steady, and when she opened them again, she scanned the crowd. Through the swaying bodies, she spotted Giovanni at the bar. He was laughing, talking casually with the bartender, completely unaware of her distress. Her lips parted as she tried to call out, but the sound caught in her throat, trapped.
"Giovanni…" she thought, but it never escaped her mouth.
The guy in front of her let out a low, mockin
