Katherine's deteriorating health and loss of faith.

JAY – JAY

At the first floor of smith publisher, was the reception, at a corner of first contact was a desk, a swirling chair and desktop for quick check and gossips. At this corner sat a high-heeled damsel of say 32 years of age, she has darting eyes that picks the minutest detail at will, a smart looking face devoid of beauty or ugliness, but only plain with quick changing demeanor. She wore a smart flannel white sleeve with black skirts just above her kneels with a full breast that stood her out.

Just past 8am, the door opened.

"Hi Katherine, Good morning wonder finger," she quizzes as Katherine took a quick glance at her and tries to make for the stairs.

"Good morning Mary!" She toned with less vigour as she touches the stair rails.

"Katherine! Have a minute to spare?" with a wink of charm, as she stood up.

"No! Mary can't this wait," as she ponders on the prospect of this chit-chat.

"Please!" Rubbing her palms together as a toddler would for Santa's visit.

"Ok Mary," As she turned and stood facing her.

"Katherine, not to be a snoopy cat, but you kinda looks shabby for some time now, always late to work, hardly a manuscript from you without any typo and grammatical error. Not to stew in your drowsy eyes," she paused;

"What's wrong Katherine?" pointing to a chair opposite hers for Katherine to sit.

"Oh, Mary, I am lost," pulling the chair back and sits.

Katherine narrated her failing relationship with Jason and how this has left her emotionally bankrupt.

After she spilled out her last sentence, she remembered the personality of Mary, a careless gossip and two-faced bitch, who was envious of everyone. But she couldn't help herself from exhaling such emotions as it made her feel better (still in thought).

"But Katherine, you're kinda funny, how come a hot guy is asking of sex from a bunch of pork like you (she closes her mouth in apology) and you're ditching him? Don't you know any beauty (she pushes out her breast with both hands) out there would jump on him like honey. Come on girl rethink and give him better than any bitch out there can. If you ask me;" she checks the effect on Katherine.

Katherine just stood up and peered at Mary for a short time and walked up the stairs.

****************************************

Ding-dong! The door bell goes

Katherine made haste to get the door, as she opened.

"Oh, Jason!" She exhaled as she hugged him in deep affection.

He responded by patting her on the back, "Katie, my love, I really missed you," in a quirking voice.

She pulled him in with haste with one hand and closed the door with the other.

"What do I offer you?" She asked in a cheerful mood.

"Nothing Katie, I just wanna ask you for a pimp;" with a sober mood.

Katherine quickly hopped on the sofa close to him with a bent knee pointing at him and her arm on the top frame of the sofa with her body angled towards him.

"All ears!" She brightens up her eyes in anticipation.

"Katie, I need another 4,000 bucks," she was apprehensive.

"I know I haven't given ya the last one I took, but I promise this time it would be different;" he said in a reassuring tone.

"The last one too many, I guess," as they both cackled.

"Ok! Let me get it for you," She walked into her room and returned with the money.

"Here you go!" as she handed him the money.

"Oh! Thanks Katie," He pulled her to himself, kissed her passionately. She responded and he quickly laid her down, took a quick plunge on her body, while pinning her hands down, only then she realized what he was up to and told him off.

This made Jason furious.

"I know this will be ya response, always a fat virgin," as he stood up from the sofa.

"What did you just call me?" She inquired as she sat up.

"Sorry, my manners!" He picked up the cash from the stool and placed it in his back pocket.

"Gotta go!" He whisked to the door and slammed it. While Katherine just sat on the sofa bamboozled.

******************************

Close to the road, was a unique spot of five star class on it was written "Gustav Kitchen" there was pairs of chairs facing each other like a cocktail love feast. At a table were Richard and Valerie in their best gentleman and gentle-lady outfits.

Richard was cracking up Valerie who was light-headed from the feel of such ambience – gave in to his mesmerizing wit.

At a table adjacent to theirs, the waiter serving a couple drinks missed a step and spilled champagne on the floor close the couple.

"Hey! Tray-man, what's the meaning of this?" He asked furiously.

"I am sorry, Sir!" The waiter jerked as he stood helpless.

"Sorry, that's all you have to say for ruining my clothes?" The man blurted as he stood up with both fist clinched on the table in rage.

"Dear, it is only a splash on your shoes and trousers ankle, Please pardon him, he is just a kid;" as she touched his arm on the table, while she sat.

"So I am fussing for nothing?" as he pounced on her with his blazing eyes.

"No, Dear, but it was only a mistake and it could," before she could finish her statement, he gave her a slap; with the waiter holding his corresponding cheek with shock. She just remained fixed as though nothing happened.

"Next time you would keep your mouth shut," as he pointed at her in a condescending nature; while making up face to mutter her last response in mimicry.

The waiter was in a dilemma whether to console the woman or stand and expect the worst from his customer; but fear kept him transfixed.

As he noticed the calmness in the atmosphere, he quickly jilted the chair backwards brushed off the waiter from his way.

"Let's get out of this damn place!" as he motioned at her. She sprang up instantly, slouching as she walked behind him like a zombie and they left the restaurant.

*******************************

Richard and Valerie in his car going home, as both were having fun. Richard with one hand on the steering and with the other hand he occasionally stroke Valerie's hair.

"Today was awesome you know," Valerie said in a soft charming tone while flashing a seductive look at Richard.

"Oh! Glad to know you liked the place;" he said as he held the steering wheel with more firmness.

"More of this is all a woman want and a little manliness you know" as she winked at him with a coquettish smile.

Richard just nodded his head and focused his attention on the road for he knew where all this was heading.

"Like hardcore manliness in bed and outside like the other guy at the restaurant," as she try to see his response.

"Which of the guy at the restaurant?" This time his attention is flung at Valerie.

"Oh! Come on! You know him; the guy with the tuxedo suit of course," with the fling of her hand in disgust.

"Oh! Come off it, a batterer is what you call a man?" He asked as he looked at her in disbelief.

"Of course, women needs firm touches from their man, every once in a while you know, this beef up the romance; and I like that," She said while licking her lips as one having fun.

"I can't believe you would opine to such degrading treatment for women, all in the guise of love and romance, it is barbaric," as he vented his anger on the core of his steering wheel.

"Say what you like, but know that that dude is more romantic than you!" With her hands folded underneath her breast.

Richard just looked at her solemnly and looked away. Silence became part of their journey home as Valerie looked through her window.

*****************************

At the dining table was a pile of manuscript scattered on it. With some littered on the floor trailing to the sitting room; Where Katherine is sitting on the longest settee with a pack of Pringles half empty and wrappers of candy close to the Pringles. Katherine rest both legs crossed on the centre table with a relaxed back, while watching TV, at intervals of time she would pick up her phone ring a number drop it back and repeated it. Then at last attempt, she took the phone off her left ear and threw it angrily at the adjacent chair. She started sobbing with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Jason won't pick up," she said while lying down on a sofa slowly in sobs. At that instant she was caught up in a seizure as she fidgeted and jerked violently until she fell on the floor, while stretching her hands towards the TV stand which was opposite her at this moment too far to reach.

Jack underneath the table barked twice and quickly ran straight to the TV stand, stood on two legs with both hands on the top of the TV stand and picked a cylindrical shaped plastic, painted white, sky blue top with its teeth and ran to Katherine while wagging his tail with alert eyes. Katherine scampered, took it from his mouth with swift and jittery hands, she opened it and inhaled it twice hurriedly and then calmly; with her eyes bloodshot as she gasped for breath. After a short time she was calm. She took hold of Jack and snuggled him in tears.

As she let him alone, she quickly ran into her bathroom with Jack trailing her, she slammed the door. Stood in front of a mirror, as she rubbed her hair, touched her body, raised a layer of flesh at her side, she started weeping.

"With all my flaws, Jason wants me for a girlfriend, me daily rising flour in the oven with the roundness of a porcupine, Jason is begging me for sex. I must give in to him, before I know, whoop! He would be gone and i'in gonna find another like him. If I go against churchy doctrine, who cares? For I am no Sister; I must have sex! So Jason must be the one to have it with, better not to lose him. With his firm abs close to me, oh girl! I am already goose bumping," she said in a bashful manner. She paused for a while; "Oh! God your girl is going crazy; help me through this, Mary mother of God, pray for me. Cause tomorrow my virginity would be gone," she ponders on; she notices a magazine at her bath tub with" Sex is love – Try it" boldly written. She just exhaled and dropped her head in her palms.