Just as the clock hit midnight, she pulled away and said “Sorry honey, my next client is going to be here soon.” I could hear the knot in her voice, a hint of guilt as if she was betraying me. I tried to convince myself that it was just a job for her, that it meant nothing more than a paycheck. But the way she held me, the way she looked into my eyes, could not be ignored. It was a fleeting moment of intimacy, a glimpse into something more, but it was quickly taken away as the reality of our situation set in. I was just another customer, a temporary escape from the harshness of her everyday life. And just like that, I was nothing again.
