A former hooker finds warmth and a mysterious package in a dentist’s waiting room

Should she open it? She asked herself. It was hot and stuffy in the surgery, but Donna’s uncle didn’t like the traffic noise upsetting his concentration. Dentistry was a serious business. She stared outside at the people moving quickly against the biting wind that chilled the city to the bone in winter, recalling only too well how she used to walk those streets every day, for money. She was safe in her adopted new life, and grateful for it. Pretending to be Dr Cockburn’s niece was living a lie as well, but he had been good to her, saved her from herself. Everyone prostitutes themselves a little in life, so why not be warm with it?

Copyright © 2000 Cheynestore/Ashley Cheyne