I wrap my arms around my three-year-old, smiling at myself at the snore that escapes her.
I sigh, lowering my head to breathe in her floral and baby powder scent.
I came too close to losing her tonight. She would have been taken from me like she almost was all those years ago.
It’s futile to even try and stop the tears that escape me then. So instead, I allow them to flow freely, crying myself to sleep wrapped around my tiny human.
A foot in my rib-cage jolts me awake. Opening eyes, I find Amity staring down at me. Her dark blonde hair sticks up from her head making me snort at her ethereal clown look she is serving.
“Mommy! What you doing?”
I chuckle at the sweet voice of my daughter, “Well, Mommy really missed you last night and your bed looked so much more comfortable than mine so I thought we could have a little sleepover.”
She nods, the words processing for a moment before her green eyes brighten. “Pancakes for bek-fast?”
I nod, smiling as she cheers and does a little dance before pulling me out of her bed and rushing me towards the kitchen.
The both of us are covered in flour and pancake batter by the time we sit down to eat. Not once do I complain as I smile down at Amity.
She is worth the time it will take to clean up the mess that we made.
Seeing her smile makes everything worth it.
Amity chatters about everything and anything that she can think of. I nod along to her chatter as I finish off my short stack.
Eventually, she pauses enough to finish her breakfast before she is off playing with her dolls. Her being distracted gives me enough time to do my daily house chores.
And enough time to think about the events that unfolded last night.
It's not the first time that one of the patrons has been pissed off about their dance not going further. But it was the first time one has followed me home and proceeded to tell me that my sleazebag of a boss ‘sold’ me.
I can’t believe that asshole! Who the fuck does he think he is selling us like we are objects to be bought?
I know that a few of the other girls regularly take part in more than just dancing. Crystal and Misty are regularly seen walking out of the club at the end of the night with their man of the night hanging offthem. Diamond boasts about the men Ivan has introduced her to, telling us how good they are to her.
I now know that it is more than just an introduction.
We are being sold off to the highest bidder like we are some kind of show ponies.
My anger is disrupted at the sound of my phone buzzing on the bench.
Lulu:
I have coffee. Be there in 5
Me:
See you soon xx
Since the first night I started at the club, a morning after debrief has become a tradition for Luna and I. From moment one, she took me under her wing. Not only did she become a mentor of such but also someone that I grew to rely on.
While neither of us has ever taken a deep dive into our pasts, it was almost like we were able to sense a fellow victim in each other.
We didn’t have to share our traumas to be there for the other person when memories resurface.
I never thought that I would have allowed myself to ever trust someone ever again, yet I have been able to with Luna.
Putting my phone down, I continue stacking the dishwasher. The mundane chore also allows me to dive back into the rest of the events of last night.
