
I had just turned eighteen and had been living in New York City for four months after moving from New Delhi, and I was really enjoying the freedom of living on my own. That night, that meant using a fake ID to get unlimited margaritas at a Mexican restaurant somewhere on Broadway in the 110s. It was December, right after my first college finals, during that strange period before winter break when classes were over and everyone was getting together for meals and drinks before going home. A friend from my pre-med classes invited me to a get-together with her friends. I almost didn’t go because I didn’t know anyone, but she was right – I needed to relax.