The amber liquid in his glass was low, swirling listlessly against the heavy crystal base. Keith stared into it, his vision slightly blurred by the haze of alcohol and the relentless, pounding bass of the club. All around him, the nightlife pulsed with synthetic energy. On the neon-drenched dance floor just a few feet away, a handful of women swayed their hips rhythmically, their movements deliberate and heavy with invitation. Now and then, a pair of dark, lined eyes would flash in his direction, lingering a moment too long, silently begging for him to notice.
But Keith noticed nothing. To him, the vibrant room was entirely hollow.
