It was a Tuesday. A terrible, awful Tuesday.

The day started like any other, with a loud alarm blaring in my ear and the sun shining brightly through the window. I got out of bed, stumbled to the kitchen, and poured myself a cup of black coffee. The rest of the morning was a blur.

I vaguely remember something about a meeting, or maybe it was a date? The lines were fuzzy. All I know is that I ended up at the local park, standing in front of a pond, staring at my reflection in a stranger's eyes.

They were a kind face, with a warm smile and a twinkle in their eye. I remember thinking, "This is it. This is the one." But little did I know, it was just a Tuesday.

The rest of the day was a series of poor decisions, each one leading to another, until I found myself in a ditch, surrounded by broken glass and regret.

And that, my friends, is the story of how I blew it all.

Chapter 9: The Aftermath