1.

He'd been depressed all day because nobody had made a fuss of him ... so he'd gone and drunk far too much at a local pub before heading home to his dark and lonely apartment.

While leaning against his front door,  contemplating the joys of throwing up ... 

2.

family and friends had thrown on every light in his small abode 

and let out a rip-roaring "Surprise".

It had frightened the courage right out of him ... the alcohol followed almost directly afterwards, but Darryl luckily made it to the bathroom first.