Seven Deadly Sins

SALIGIA felt like the end of the world. The lighting was dim, and the red strobe pulsing above the sunken dance floor provided only fleeting glimpses of the crush of people dancing—a slash of rippling hair, a swath of sweat-slicked thigh. The music in the club was low and throbbing, seeming to drive the undulating limbs of the club-goers.

It was your first time at SALIGIA, the new “in” club tucked away in downtrodden part of the city near the docks. In fact, it was your first time out at night since college. You had a good life—you’d graduated and gotten a terrific job with growth prospects, gotten engaged to your high school sweetheart, and purchased a beautiful Tesla to park in the garage of your quiet suburban home.

But lately you’d gotten a feeling of restlessness that you couldn’t quite shake. So when your fiancée left for a short business trip to DC, you thought you’d stay in the city on Friday night after work and sample a little of what the nightlife had to offer. You didn’t intent to cheat on, but you wanted to have some fun—have a few drinks, talk to some women, and then call it a night. Break the monotony of sitting at home in your pajamas watching House of Cards on your tablet.

You set your hands on the railing encircling the sunken dance floor, intending to soak in the scene before taking any action. This clearly was the place to be, and you felt more than a little out of place in this club. A small group of club-goers worked their way around you to the stairs leading down to the sunken dance floor—as they passed, a young brunette in a loose blue dress bumped lightly against your hip. You were immediately aware of the scent of her hair and the firmness of her ass as she brushed past you. In a moment, she and her group were gone, descended into the throng of people below.

You felt suddenly very aware of yourself, and you pulled out your Blackberry in an attempt to appear occupied as you regained your bearings. As you scrolled through a few already-read emails, a hand reached across your field of vision, slender fingers extending across the bright screen of your device.