Spencer sat at the bar in the stuffy club sipping on his stiff drink. He felt the haze of alcohol cloud his vision and judgment and reveled in the feeling. Staring down into his drink he watched as his haggard reflection sloshed around. His chin was covered in stubble and his skin was pale and slicked with sweat from the heat in the club. His eyes were sunken with large dark circles, from stress and a lack of sleep. He ran a hand over his face and sighed. Had someone told him years ago that he would be here he would have laughed in their face, and possibly have referred them to a psychologist.
He remembered a time when he would have walked past a place like this, ignoring it, letting it blend in with the other seedy establishments. A time when he would have walked hand in hand with a beautiful blonde girl at his side, laughing as she told him a story about a high school experience so different from his own. They would have gone to a show, she would have dragged him to hang out with people his own age, people who were excited about leaving the town of flashing lights for bigger and better things. They would have been happy, and ignorant of the evils out there waiting for them.
Spencer finished his drink and turned on his stool. He looked to the stage and watched as the woman on it spun on her pole, looking tired and worn, her bones showing through her skin, her blonde hair dirty as she threw it over her shoulder, bending down so that a the balding man behind her would throw another five dollar bill at her.
As she stood and threw her head back Spencer went back to when the face was bright and full of laughter, when those blue eyes sparkled and shone in the sunlight. He stood and walked out of the club, there was nothing there for him anymore.