I'm not like the other females in my neighborhood, but I used to be like them: joyful, talkative, lively, and free. My ambition is to become a doctor, thus I'm working hard to reach that goal. I have a lot of ambitions in my life ahead of me at the age of seven, and I assumed nothing would ever change. I was assaulted by our next-door neighbor's son, who was 12 at the time, and I was so young, weak, and vulnerable, but he didn't seem to care. I cried as my world crumbled into shards like shattered glass. My heart began to feel hatred because I believed the world was horrible and selfish. Even though it has been several years, the recollection of it still stays in my head like a leech, slowly devouring the good part of me. Since that day, I've changed a lot, especially in terms of my outlook on life. I've had a lot of relationships, none of which have been significant, but it hasn't helped me. I'm missing a piece of myself, and I know I'll never find it. When my father and mother died, I became unknown to all. I dropped out of college because I couldn't sustain myself any longer. I ventured into the city to look for a job but there was nothing I could find. I'm lost and with nowhere to go, I began to wander the streets without any idea how to feed myself then somebody came to me and asked me if I need shelter and food, and I undoubtedly said yes.

I never imagined that this would be my life now, so far from what I had hoped for. I attempted to persuade myself that I could change, but my brain insisted on forcing me to do so. To me, sex is like a narcotic; every touch and kiss from a guy (without love, just a customer) increases my entire body, and I feel weak without it. Who would love a prostitute? I've just realized that no one will ever accept or love me.

Every day is just a normal day for me, sleeping in the morning in my apartment, dancing and entertaining customers in the evening, and sometimes I woke up finding myself alone in the hotel where my customer had brought me. At night time, I wore a sexy dress fit for my perfectly shaped body, and when I danced, all of the people inside the bar stared at me with pleasure. Aside from those guys I recognized, I saw one man that seemed like a first-timer who didn't even bother about looking at me as if he doesn't have desires for me. He drinks his wine and then scans his cell phone like he was in his office, not in a bar. I stared at him, wishing he would glance my way just for a second, but he didn't, so I stared away. After my performance, our manager told me that someone wanted to meet me and asked me to be his companion, not knowing that the man was him. I thought he didn't like me because he never glanced at me while dancing on stage. I approached him with my usual smile and sat by his side with my usual attitude; of course, it's without shame. He introduced himself to me even though I didn't ask him; he said his name was Nathan, aged 38; worked as a Manager in a most prestigious company, and he is single, or, should I say, divorced. I listened to him while pouring wine into his glass, and then he asked me about my real name. I chortled at first because no one asked for my real name; I've been here for seven years but even those loyal customers of mine didn't ask me who I am. I mean, who cares about my real identity? I'm just a girl with no hopes and no future, with a broken life and a lost soul, but I said, 'Stephanie, but please never call me by that name, call me Scarlet'. He smiled at me and then asked me to go with him. I said sure. He paid my manager and grabbed my hand and went outside the bar. We went to a luxurious hotel; I just assumed my night with him would be wonderful because maybe he would give me big tips. He talks little, but I managed to flirt with him because that's my job. I unbuttoned his shirt slowly while listening to the sweet romantic music on the radio, but he stopped me gently, holding my hands.

'Stephanie, don't you recognize me?' I was stunned. He said my name again, even though I had commanded him not to. He looked at me closely and our eyes met. The room was lit by a chandelier and fluorescents, so I could see his face now. He looked younger than his age, with blue eyes and the perfect shape of a nose. But I never recognized him, so I answered 'No'.

"Remember the night in the park when you cried so hard for the reason I don't know, I was there before you, sitting on the other side. At first, I didn't want to intervene but I noticed you, crying for almost an hour. That's why I approached you and gave you my handkerchief."

I looked away from him without a word. He continued to talk.

"My heart melted when I saw you in that condition. I wanted to ask you what happened but I didn't get a chance. I know it's hard to trust someone but it's better to confess it to a stranger."

I smiled at him and realized his calm voice reverberating in my ears. My heart began to feel pain. I remember that night when I tried to end my life but it didn't happen. The tears in my eyes started to fall without my consent and at this moment I began to sob like a baby, and then he wiped my tears with his hands. Our eyes met, and I saw something in him that I have never seen before.

"I know something happened to you and you want to forget about it but you can tell me everything, I won't judge nor tell others." He continued to talk knowing I did not reply. I don't know why, but I feel different when I'm with him. I felt like I am with someone whom I could trust, and because of that, I told him everything. He listened very eagerly; no one had listened to me like that before. Then he wrapped me gently in his calm embrace, without doubts, without tough words, without judgment. The embrace became harder but sweeter. He unwittingly began to unzip my soul, and then he shut the chamber of my uncertainties and fears, and as a result, I feel as if I have transformed into someone, someone so beautiful, like a human. My dress began to slip as he gently stroked my skin, and he then probed my body as if he were exploring the wicked part of me. I moaned softly with love, I just thought so, and then he kissed me gently, without being loathsome and without panic, I responded. I made love with him like I never had in all my life, for the first time. I felt like someone made love with my soul and it was a solace. He whispered something in my ear softly, but I heard it so loud that my spirit lifted above me, and right that moment I knew I was the luckiest woman in the world.

He drove me home while talking to me like an old mate; he made me laugh, and I forgot all the pain I felt in the past. Then he gave me more money than I expected, but I refused; then he said,

"It's not a payment for your time, it's a saving for your future so that you can leave the world of slavery."

Those words became therapy to my heart, but I cried not because I felt embarrassed, but because I felt the happiness that was buried within me long before. He put the money in my hands with care and kissed my forehead like I was his woman. I thanked him and then went outside the car and waved goodbye; he waved back at me with the smile I always wanted to see.

I slept soundly without nightmares in the morning and awoke at 3 p.m. feeling as if I had been reborn. I remember the night we spent together, but I never expected to see him again. I didn't want to get my hopes up, so I just assumed myself, but when I stepped slowly onto the stage, dressed in my lovely daring gown and dancing to the charming tune, I spotted him again, and this time he gave me a sidelong glance. I didn't grin because the way he looked at me made me feel like someone had stabbed me in the heart. While those insane men yelled at me, called my name, and stared at me with lust, I felt guilty. The music then changed, signaling the conclusion of my show. I walked straight to the dressing room and cried uncontrollably like a child for no apparent reason. Yes, I don't know why I cried, but his eyes reminded me to stop what I was doing because what I did was wrong. Then our manager came and told me about the customer last night who wanted to have me again. I wiped my tears and put back my make-up and went outside to meet him for the second time. He approached me first and led me to his table while holding my hand.

He asked me if I'm okay as if he already knew how bad I was feeling. He tenderly kissed my forehead after checking my temperature. "Yes," I answered, shocked. He went up to my manager, who was entertaining one of the VIPs at the moment and offered her double pay for my time. All my loyal clients were looking at him in disagreement but he paid additional money to the manager to cut the tension. Then he took my hand in his and led me out of the pub, this time to his house. I almost yelled, but it was my soul; no one invited me to his home, but he is the one, the only one among the hundreds of customers I've met. I'm relieved that he lived alone, and then he takes me to his house. He leads me to the kitchen while holding my hands. The architecture of it was magnificent with white and black motifs. A good choice of color for a man's outlook. He offered me to sit near him as he started to grab the ingredients for tonight's menu. I don't know what his motive was, but I waited.

"I'll cook for you and let's have dinner together." I smiled while I looked at him preparing our food, then in that moment of silence, I wonder what it was like to be his partner. Maybe he noticed me daydreaming, that's why he moved closer to where I am holding a spoon.

"Taste it. It's a beef stew." He demanded calmly with those gentle faces of a sheep. "How's the food?" He asked waiting for my response.

"Wow, I didn't know you're a good cook. I love it, Nathan."
He wrapped me in his sweet embrace, brushing my hair softly. And by this time he blurted his feelings towards me.

"I know about your dreams and I want to make that dream a reality," I closed my eyes while resting my head on his chest listening to every word he said, "I have loved you from the first time I saw you. I searched for you for so long after that meeting but you're nowhere to be found. I had an important call at that time and when I looked back, you were gone without saying goodbye." I began to sob.

"I love you too but I'm not the right woman for you, it's ashamed to have me as your lover. Loving me as a prostitute will be hard for you because people will speculate." I said while I looked at him desperately, and without a word, he suddenly kissed my lips gently. I squinted, deliberately, finding a grip on where I stood, for the force of his kiss was so strong that my mind wanted to respond. I responded, of course, for I know that his kiss belongs to me.

"There is no right or wrong woman to a man who finds love and comfort. I don't see you as what others saw but I see you as someone so delicate, someone so precious that even your past cannot hinders the feelings I have for you. I love you Stephanie and I want to snatch you from the world you're in." I never expected I would meet someone like him; someone who would cherish me; someone who would love and accept me the way I am.