Inside the club, loud EDM bombards my senses, making every cell in my body vibrate. Everything’s lit up by floor-to-ceiling lights that flash and pulse to the music. Bright splashes of color shine over the entire room as throngs of people scream, laugh, and dance. The vibes and energy are so top-notch, I’m ecstatic. And I can tell my friends are excited to be here, too. Kiara is grinning from ear to ear, and even Val nods and pumps her fist along to the beat.

“Come on,” I say, leading my friends to the dance floor. “Let’s get closer to the stage!”

The crowd gradually makes way for us as we push closer to the front. I definitely haven’t missed the stench of sweaty bodies, but being in close proximity to so many other people makes me feel alive in ways I can’t explain. Kiara and I dance back-to-back, reaching our hands high in the air, while beside us, Val rocks and grooves to the music.

The club crowd is a lot younger than I remember it being, although I see a handful of middle-aged couples as well. Kiara was right. There are lots of people who are older than us, including a man in his seventies sporting a fedora and sunglasses. So I don’t feel too old.

The DJ puts on a remixed version of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (in the World),” a throwback from when I was in high school that makes people hoot in recognition. I close my eyes and raise my hands as I sway from side to side.

Kiara and I sing along to the lyrics, throwing Val a pointed look.

“Come on!” I say. “I know you know the words!”

Val rolls her eyes in mock disgust. But at the next chorus, she belts out the song with so much force that Kiara and I fall into each other, nearly collapsing with laughter.

Fuck, this is fun, I think. Why did I stop going out with my friends, again?

But of course, I know exactly why. When James and I first moved to San Francisco, we went out to pretty much every club we could get into. But as we got older, we started doing what he said were more “normal” mid-to-late-twenties activities like trivia nights and wineries. Since I did enjoy most of the things we did together, I never really complained.

Now, as I’m dancing in the middle of the dance floor with my friends, I realize that what James said was a “normal transition” isn’t normal at all. At least, it wasn’t for me. The heart-pumping music… flashing strobe lights… I still love all these things now, as much as I did in my early twenties. This is who I am. Not board games and escape rooms.