text: Through a steamy nightclub window young adults are seen having the time of their lives; talking, dancing, sweating, drinking, hooking up and popping pills. Electric music is playing and dance lights are in full effect. A smaller group is at the bar; all in their early twenties. Jules is in the center. She is a knockout in a sexy but classy black dress rocking gorgeous black stilettos. “Drinks on me” as Jules passes shots out to everyone. “Tonight we celebrate, um, let’s see, what’s our excuse tonight?”, giggling. The gang in unison, “Cheers to Jules”. “Cheers to our successes,” Jules toasting back. Her friends laugh and pound their shots effortlessly before heading to dance. As Jules walks her body moves confidently across the dance floor. All pause and stare. She is full of charisma, full of life. She is the one they idolize at that moment. It’s now late. Jules stumbles out of her Uber, catching a heel, and nearly falling. The driver looks at his clock, 4 am, and then back to Jules with a look of pity. “Thank you for the ride.” She curtsies. “Much appreciated” as she raises a bottle of vodka to him and puts an unlit cigarette in her mouth. “You are welcome young lady,” replies the driver. Jules turns, struggling to find her keys deep in her purse as she sways side to side, making her way home. She pauses and steadies herself as she looks to the sky. The clouds have parted and the moon and stars are brighter than ever. The sky shimmers and the clarity is astounding. The driver looks out of his window to see what has caught her eye. Both sigh a deep breath and seem to relax. Jules continues her journey to the front door. Her protector watches until she makes it safely inside before driving off to his next rescue. Jules locks the front door and peels off her jacket, missing the couch. It falls to the floor. She finds her way to the hall and turns on the light stopping briefly to enjoy pictures of friends and family vacations. Her eyes are drawn to her college graduation photo. Jules is surrounded by loved ones and her heart swells as she reminisces. Snapping out of her trance she turns and wobbles into the bathroom. She fumbles with her dress and underwear, refusing to give up her vodka bottle, finally plopping down onto the toilet. Her feet are wide to brace herself as she feels the spin of the earth's rotation begin to speed up. At that moment she notices a large gouge in her otherwise perfect stiletto. Running her fingers along the imperfection she desperately tries to remember how she could have damaged this extravagance. “What a waste,” she mumbles to herself. At that moment her head and body lift. A beautifully tiny creature slowly lowers down on a single strand of spider silk. She freezes and stares in amazement at the true elegance directly in front of her. Its long legs dangle and move in slow motion. It’s dancing a special dance for her eyes only. She watches every melodic movement entranced as if noticing life’s natural beauty for the first time. “You are incredible,” she says softly. As the spider's position moves closer to the ground it now has a dance partner with which it remains in perfect synch. Jules watches the spiders dance captivated. Without notice, tears begin to flow from her eyes as she breathes slow, shallow breaths. The spiders eloquently dance to the floor and disappear under the sink. Jules pauses and her attention is drawn back to the gouge in her shoe. She takes off her shoes and throws them in the trash, rising up from the toilet, more steady, almost sober. Jules looks in the mirror. Her hair is a mess and makeup is running down her face. She's half the woman she was earlier in the evening. She tilts her head sideways, “What the fuck am I doing to myself?” She dumps the vodka down the sink and throws the empty bottle and cigarette into the trash. She wipes away her tears, slowly cleans off her makeup, and brushes back her hair neatly. She fixes her dress and stands tall, confident once again. Jules walks out toward the wall of pictures relishing in all she has to be proud of before turning out the lights.