“Cheers to the newlyweds!” Came a shout from a man in the corner of the room, his face red from alcohol as he drained yet another glass of booze. Raucous cheering, and more shouts of “Cheers!” came from people as they also finished another glass, the party in full swing. Shannon and her new husband Nathan smiled, giggling, happiness at their successful wedding reception multiplied by the beer in their systems. They danced in the hotel lobby, clumsily bumping into others and splashing their drinks around, as everyone did to them. But it didn’t matter; today was a happy day, the union between two young people being celebrated, and also a chance to party.

At the end of the night, after the reception began to lose its fuel, and after some bridesmaids and groomsmen were thrown out for being too rowdy and loud (even though they were staying at the hotel), people began to slowly filter out of the lobby, eager to catch a taxi, and get some sleep.

“Watch this.” George, a groomsman, friend of the groom, said, his speech and brain slurred and slow from the beer. He, as well, wanted to go home tonight, but he figured he might as well have some more fun beforehand.

Let me explain to you, now, the hotel floor plan for the first couple of floors. George and his buddies were located on the second floor, and two spiral staircases descended down to the lobby, where the reception was taking place, and where the floor was marble. The stairs made a stop there, but continued downward, into the basement, where a few stores were located. They spiraled all the way.

As many of you know (whether from experience or talk), alcohol slows down your brain. You’ll be more ‘daring’ or more stupid, but mainly less aware. Whichever way you choose to describe it.

Now, George, like many others, had used this party as an excuse to have more booze than usual, and his brain was already filled with the pleasant buzz you’d usually get from such liquid. With much encouraging from his friends, George plopped gracefully down on the wooden handrail of one of the spiral staircases, planning to slide safely down, and head home to his warm bed.

As you and I both know, things usually don’t go as planned.

Oh, sure, the first couple of feet went smoothly, George sliding down with a smile on his face.

And then a disaster happened.

George lost his balance, most likely from the beer.

He fell, from the second story, to the basement, crashing into a table.

Emily, sister of the groom and a bridesmaid, saw the man flying down, heard the wood splinter. She let loose a scream, not just terrified, but half scared to death that the man was dead, and caused everyone in the room to turn and stare.

On the basement floor, in a pool of blood, laid George, both arms and one leg in an unnatural position, and clearly unconscious.

An ambulance was called, and George was transported quickly to the Emergency Room.

Later, the doctor claimed that, if George hadn’t crashed into the table, he’d be dead right now. Instead, he escaped with his life, and many broken bones. And a concussion, of course.

But what if the table wasn’t there...

A/N: I had wanted to write another horror story, one that feeds off the ‘what if’ in your mind. Then I thought of writing this. I put it in the horror section because it’s a true story, though the names were changed. My dad happened to hear the scream at the reception before he left.