“You’ve never asked my name?” she said, head tipped back and eyes on the cracked ceiling. “Then again I’ve never asked yours.”
Jamie frowned, eyebrows scurrying to knit together as the lax, loose-jaw gaze puckered and pulled into something close to concentration.
“What?” he croaked, spittle catching on chapped lips.
“I mean it’s not your fault,” she continued. “It’s not as if you’re the only one who doesn’t ask. No one does. They all think they already know.”
“I-”
She waved a hand, fingers blurring across Jamie’s vision and whisking away whatever words he’d been about to attempt.
“Hush now,” she soothed. “It doesn’t matter anymore does it? Hum? I’m not going to niggle you about something as silly as a name. Why should I? It’s not my job!”
Jamie’s chin dropped, thudding against his chest.
“I know what my job is,” she carried on. “I’m here to be used.”
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
interesting….how we can get lost in what we do…as opposed to what we are being….when i worked in the corporate world, it felt a lot like this….as long as you produced nothing much mattered….yes, and used….names are too personal for that….smiles…
first time playing at Visdare
This is a really interesting take on my response to the prompt. I’m glad that it provoked such thought.
That job makes me cold.. Yes to often that’s her job.. Great last sentence.
Thank you very much.
Prostitution, right? I think it takes huge amounts of bravery to put yourself in such a vulnerable position, and the road that your life takes to need to resort to this job? I shudder to think and thank my lucky stars. I bet that there are very few women who’s clients ever know their real name. And so they are anonymous. A terrible way to need to live. A very thought-provoking response, Carol.
Prostitution was the initial drive behind the piece, but when I redrafted I started to think that actually, the writing could just as easily represent the connection between a drug user and the drug they use.
It’s lovely to hear other views on my work though. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Yes… in fact any kind of transaction where one party holds all (or most) of the power.
This packs a real punch, the more so because it CAN be interpreted in more than one context. Brutal and beautiful. Thought provoking. A great piece!
Thank you very much! 🙂
I really like the way you write…it’s full of mystery. I like to think that my writing is somewhat similar but you have far more mastery of that skill than I do as a beginning writer. I would love to read a full-length book that you’ve written. I think I can garuntee that I will be captivated!