As the evening of the Christmas party approached, my dread only grew, but I figured if I had to go, I'd make an impression. With some of the money Sullivan had paid me, I splurged on a new dress. It was red, his favorite color, and as soon as I slipped into it, I knew the hemline was too high and the neckline was too low. Still, I bought it with little hesitation. I also purchased matching heels and lipstick. The party wa...

The following day, I saw Sullivan only once, when we passed each other in the corridor. I met his stare and quickly looked away, but a mere second later, I glanced at him again. When I did, I found him grinning. As if he knew I'd returned to my apartment last night and fervently masturbated. As if he could tell that I'd pinched my nipples, delighting in the tenderness he'd left behind. For our second meeting on Thursday,...

This is far from a love story, but it's my story to tell, and it began the day Mr. Frost called me into his office. I tried to hide my nervousness as I sat down, for I had no idea what he wanted to discuss. It wasn't as if I reported directly to him; he was the boss of my boss. While I reminded myself not to bounce my knee or pick at my cuticles, Mr. Frost gazed out his office window. Studying his profile, I realized he s...

I was in the middle of trying to wean the baby off the breast when I got mastitis. I was doing massages, letting baby nurse, standing under the hot shower, and it wasn’t getting any better. Not only that, but I knew that if I didn’t help it soon, I was going to need to see the doctor for some antibiotics. It was getting very painful, and my breast was swollen. My loving husband was very concerned; he hated seeing me in te...

From his apartment directly below mine, Darren must have heard me crying. Clueless as to how loud my sobbing was, I was surprised when he knocked on my door at a little after seven that evening. Though we'd been neighbors for more than a year, he and I remained mere acquaintances. Answering his gentle knock, I peered out at him through swollen eyes. The acute distress overwhelming me at that moment made it impossible to f...

When Sutton first showed up at the church that Wednesday afternoon, Pastor Hall looked glad to see him. No doubt the preacher thought a long-absent member of his congregation was finally returning to the flock. Sutton hadn't been to Sunday service in months, not since before his wife had passed away. As the two men sat in Pastor Hall's office, Sutton stared down at his hands. "I know you probably won't believe what I'm ab...