Vi

DISCLAIMER: this story contains more mature themes & content then my works usually do and is not suitable for younger readers. But I promise, there are plenty of other stories you can read if you scroll through a little further!
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“Oh. Wow!” he said, panting for breath. “Vi, you are good.”
“It’s what I do Darlin,” came the woman’s country drawl on the other end of the phone. “Will we be meeting at the stables again next week?”

With the client’s confirmation of their next appointment, Vi hung up. Lina shook her head, shaking off the persona of Vi she’d put on for the call. She had barely a moment to herself before she had to slip into being Vi again as a seductive combination of drums and saxophone signaled another client calling in.

“Hi,” she said. This time, her voice was breathy and a little deeper than usual. It was part of the job, playing characters to appeal, attract and arouse. The aim was to leave each client breathless, but wearing a big fat grin.

Lina sighed heavily after hanging up with her fifth caller. A gust of fresh air came rushing through the window, washing over her. She basked in it a moment, grateful. Her peace however, only lasted a moment before the doorbell rang. She closed her diary, hurriedly stuffing it in her desk drawer.

A smile stretched across Lina’s lips as she opened the door to reveal a tall, lanky guy with pale skin and dark brown hair standing on the other side. “Hey Lina,” he said.
“Alex!” She didn’t hesitate to throw herself at him. He’d been out of town for a couple of months, travelling for his work. “You’re back!”
Beaming, he spun her round effortlessly. “And I’m not going anywhere anytime soon,” he said, setting her on the ground again.

Lina’s face fell. “Was it really that bad?” she asked, taking his hand and leading him inside. They sat opposite one another at the small dining table under the window in the kitchen of her small city apartment.

“I quit.” Alex grinned. “You know me Lin, I’m not the best with people. Never have been. I still don’t know why they hired me. Or why I thought going for the job was a good idea in the first place.”
Lina reached out, punching him playfully. “It got you out of the house!” she said. “You’re too much of a home hermit otherwise. Have you actually been home yet?”
“Only to drop off my bag.”
Lina’s mouth fell open. “And here I was sure you would’ve gone straight home and shut yourself in!”
“I’m not that bad, Lina. I had to see my best friend! Besides, who are you to be commenting? You’re not much better yourself. You even work from home.”
Lina tossed a lock of her golden hair over her shoulder, shrugging her shoulders. “Perk of the job I suppose.”
“You never told me what you do.” Alex complained, his pout exaggerated.
“Yes I did,” she said. “I told you. I’m a call girl.”

Alex guffawed, almost falling off his chair in the process.
“Careful!” said Lina with a giggle, rushing around to push the seat forward again and prevent him tipping over.

“But really,” he said, still laughing a little. “You. A call girl?”
“Yes,” she said. “For a call centre.”
“A call centre,” Alex repeated. There was a long pause, then, “Yeah. I can see you doing that actually. You’ve always had a way with people. You’re such a workaholic. I bet you have the office record for getting your callers to do exactly what you want.” Lina said nothing. She didn’t know what to say. This was getting dangerous. Much too close to the truth for her liking. There was no way she'd tell anyone the truth. Not even Alex. She'd thought about it many times, but she could never actually bring herself to do it. Not after the last time. The friend she'd told hadn't spoken to her since. She remembered what they'd said, clear as day. "I'm not sure what's more sinful," they'd said, tutting and shaking their head. "The fact that you do this kind of work or the fact that you actually enjoy it." Now, Vi was her secret. Her dirty little secret. And she planned for it to stay that way.

Catching a glimpse of Lina's clock over her shoulder, Alex gasped. "I should get home," he said, quickly standing up.
Lina sighed. "Already?" she asked, following him toward the door.
He stopped and touched a hand to her shoulder when they reached it. "I'm sorry Lin," he said. "I wish I could stay, but I promised my parents I'd meet them for dinner later. I have to go home, dump my stuff and change before then,"
Alex kissed her cheek before he left. “I’ll see you again soon,” he said.
“Yeah,” said Lina. “Just… Just don’t be a stranger ok? I've missed you!”

After Alex left, Lina returned to work. She was a workaholic. At least that much of what he said about her career was true. She logged on to her ‘Gimme Sugar’ profile to see she had a new client. Sam. She smiled. It was always fun to get a new client. New likes, new desires, new fantasies, and a new character for Vi to play.

Lina picked up her phone and dialled the number on her computer screen “Hi there,” she said in her best sultry tone. “Is this Sam?”
“Yeah,” came a weak male voice.
“Well Sam,” said Vi, “I hear you’re in the market for a good time. Looking for a little sugar?”
“Yeah.” It seemed to be all the guy could get out of his mouth.
“Tell me Hon. What do you like? What excites you?”
“A pretty girl. Are you pretty?”
Lina opened and closed her mouth a few times, slipping out of character a moment. “I think that’s for you to decide.”
“Well you sound beautiful,” said Sam.
Lina tried to stifle her sigh of relief. “Well sweetheart,” she said, back to being Vi again, “what’s your ultimate fantasy?”
“Flowers,” said Sam.  Why did a guy this charming need a call service? “I would love to make love in a sea of flower petals.” Lina could have melted. He sounded so sweet.
“In a spa?” Lina asked, starting to like this idea herself. Very much. Pity she only did this on the phone...

“Yeah,” said Sam, his voice breathy. “But I don’t know if I could ever actually do it.  I have this friend.. She always says I need to put myself out there more.”
“She?” Lina said before she could stop herself. “Do you like her?”
As Sam spoke, Lina clapped her hand over her mouth, as a thought hit her. No, it wouldn't be. It couldn't be. She brushed the thought away,
Luckily for her, even if he did notice, Sam didn’t seem to mind. “I think I do. It’ll never happen though.”
Lina smiled. “Well I can be your dream girl, Darling. You can live out your fantasies with me.” Just like that, Vi was back in control.

“I’m all wet. Are you going to come in with me? There’s a few petals stuck to me. They’re all silky. Do you want to touch them?”
“Yes, I can feel it. You’re so wet, and gorgeous.” He gasped and groaned, a sign Lina was doing her job right. They’d been doing this same routine for a few months.

Up until now, it had only ever been phone sex, which is why Lina was so taken aback by Sam’s request one day. “Look Vi. Valentine’s day is coming up, and it would be really nice not to spend it alone, for once. Could we get together? Could I see you?”
Lina knew there was nothing against it in the rules. Just that she had never done it face to face before. But she liked this guy. “Sure, but it’ll cost extra.”
“Ok,” said Sam. He still sounded exhausted. "But... how will I know it's you?"
"I..." She thought for a moment. "I'll have a big heart hanging on my chest."
It took Sam a moment to unscramble what she was saying so that the words made sense. He nodded. "I'll bring you a rose."
Lina smiled. He was so romantic. Why did he have to be her client?

A week later, the big night came. Lina had spent hours transforming herself into Vi. She arrived early in the hotel and got herself a drink. It never hurt to have a little extra happy in your system, especially if you weren’t used to doing this sort of thing.

Her mouth dropped at the sight of the guy she’d come to meet. He had dark brown hair, with a fringe that was swept to the side and gelled into place. She knew from the slightly nervous, slightly excited look in his eyes that this was her client. But this guy was not Sam. This guy… this guy was Alex.

Lina had risen to her feet when she’d spotted him, but it wasn’t until Alex came closer that he realised who she was. He stopped, inches away from her, his eyes growing wide. He knew it was Vi, because of the large, silver heart resting on her cleavage. This girl was beautiful. Her golden hair cascaded down past her shoulders in luscious, curly waves, her deep blue eyes sparkling like sapphires amidst the attractively dark circles created by her mascara. Her lips, a bold shade of ruby red stood out against the paleness of her skin. This girl was everything he'd imagined. This girl was the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. This girl... This girl was Lina. Not Vi. Lina. His beautiful best friend who he'd known for forever. Who he'd loved for forever. “Lina?” he said, not quite believing it.
“Alex.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I’m here for work,” Lina said simply.
“I’m here for a date.” He looked her up and down. “With a girl with a big heart necklace..” he added slowly, his eyes sweeping over it.
“You’re Sam,” she said after a moment, gasping
“You’re Vi.”
“In another life,” Lina answered. “But I don’t have to be, if you don’t want me to. Do you still want to…”
“If you’re ok with it,” said Alex. “You know that girl I told you about, when you first called me as Vi?” Lina nodded.

“I was talking about you.” He came closer, so he was pressed up against her, their faces inches apart. " I'd rather do it with you though, Lina", he whispered.
Her entire body tingled at the sound of her name on his lips. "I love you, Lina," he said, looking at her beautiful sapphire eyes, locked on his. "I always have."
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes."
"I love you too Alex."
He leaned in, closing the gap between them completely. He kissed her with the furious intensity of someone who had been holding back the urge for far too long. She jumped up, wrapping her legs around him and kissing him back, years of love pouring out of her. She closed her eyes, basking in the moment she'd always dreamed of.

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For Brandi, Alaina and Amelia. Thanks for the inspiration

Bubbles

So slowly they form, the foamy liquid sticky to the touch, connecting to the hard, plastic wand like a magnet. Slowly, air blows in and they detach themselves in perfect spheres to float along in the air. Serenely, they float alone, as if sitting on the sea, gently bobbing up and down with the rise and fall of the small waves.

Your excitement builds as a rainbow forms on the liquid where the light hits it. As the bubble takes shape from your simple breath of life, your smile couldn't be bigger. Your anticipation, your excitement grows. You're on the edge of your seat. The build up pours out of you as you chase the bubble, floating along in the breeze. All you want is to run alongside it, feeling the wind rush through your hair.

Sometimes, if you're very lucky, you'll get caught in the bubble. Concealed within it's embrace. You can't help but be happy in that bubble. Nothing can touch you. Not in your bubble. Your bubble is complete bliss. There's no darkness, no worries here in this small slice of tranquillity. It feels like heaven. Like a beautiful breeze enveloping you, washing you anew. You've never felt better. Never more free in your life than right here. You could dance in deliriously happy circles, scream and shout with sheer joy from the rooftops.

And then, the bubble bursts. One sharp prick is all it takes and your beautiful world. The beautiful mirage you'd come to see as real suddenly disappears in an instant. You are dropped painfully, forcefully back down. You hit the cold hard ground with a harsh thud and curl up in a ball. It feels like glass has shattered, and you're surrounded by it's broken remains. You want to cry, but you know that won't do anything. It won't put that beautifully blissful bubble back together. It won't fix what's been broken beyond repair.

Finally, you take a breath and look up. Your lips curve slowly upward at the edges at the sight before your eyes. There are more beautiful bubbles bobbing along in the sky, and you realise then that even if one bubble bursts, if you just wait, long enough, another bubble will be brought to life. And if you're very lucky, it might engulf you in it's joyous embrace and take you on a ride awhile, away from your troubles and worries. Away from the hard, confusing world. But the more bubbles you have, the more you learn to cushion the fall when they burst, and the more you believe that another bubble will soon bob by to take it's place.

Forever

Forever. Can you imagine that? What would it be like to live forever? To be immortal? None know better than Parker Green. He's lived almost a thousand years already, with no signs of leaving this world anytime soon. He also has the added advantage of not ageing. He is ageless. Time does not mark his skin, the years that pass make no difference to him. He remains forever young.

So, Parker, what is it like to live forever? He tells me he doesn't know, asking instead if I know what it's like knowing I'll die sometime. I take a moment before I give my answer; a little sad. The clock ticks away to a certain point, only, I don't know when that point is exactly. No one does.
Parker seems surprised. He hadn't expected me to have an answer. He ponders a moment before responding. "Well, I suppose it's relaxing by comparison," he says. "Time is not something I have to worry about. I have all the time in the world to do everything I want to with my life."

Silence falls and we both look up at the clock on the wall nearby, simply watching the hands tick round as time passes, second by second. I look back and ask him whether he there is sadness, knowing those around him, those he loves and holds dear, are not immortally ageless like him. "I haven't gotten to that stage yet," he says candidly. "I suppose it will be a little, when that stage comes. Having to watch my beautiful wife grow old, right in front of me is pretty torturous. But on the other hand, I'll get to watch my family for generations to come."

Parker Green, while acknowledging the melancholy of his timeless existence, ever the optimist, prefers to focus on the positives that comes from having the type of life that lasts forever. So would you want to live forever if you were given the chance? Would you stay forever young given the choice? Would you like to be immortal and ageless? All these questions and more, I shall leave you to ponder.

The Stars

The Stars twinkled in the newly dark night sky, excited to be able to gaze down on the world below. One of the younger stars bounced around, excited to be seeing it all for the first time.
"There's not really anything to be all that excited about," said another star.
"Now now," said one of the oldest, wisest stars. "The world below isn't all bad. Where there's life, there's hope."
"Easy for you to say." Said the cynical star. "You get to go down there and help guide them."
"?Maybe so," said the older star, "but those of us here who watch over, we give hope too. You never know when seeing us, shining up here, will give someone that little bit of extra encouragement, that little lift they might need to keep going."

The older star could remember going down to guide people in the world below, back in his younger days. He's loved it, because it had meant taking their form. Being a person, just like them. Even if it was only for a little while. He remembered one young man, possibly the last he'd been sent to see. “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet," he'd told him. "However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.” Now, looking down, he wondered whether the young man was looking back up at them. Unfortunately, the star would never know that in fact, he was. 

The young man looked up at the shimmering stars dotting the sky and smiled to himself. He still remembered the time the Angel had come to him, and told him to look up at the stars. Now, every time he felt down, all he had to do was look up when night fell and the stars appeared in the sky.

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In memory of the incredible shining star that is Stephen Hawking. Thanks for giving us hope RIP.

Going Gaga

He stopped, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Everywhere he looked, each person he laid eyes on looked the same. He couldn't tell one apart from the other. They were all identical. And he, against their backdrop, stood out like a sore thumb.

They all seemed happy. On the surface. But the smiles on their lips, it appeared, were glued upon the blank canvas of their otherwise expressionless faces. It was not true happiness, he realised, for it faltered if you studied it more closely. It did not light up their faces. It did not cause their eyes to sparkle. They were robots, and the thought saddened him. Even though this was all he had ever known, the young man couldn't help but suspect they'd been brainwashed. He could almost see them all, a vision of another life. But something was different. They were different. They were all different. Not one of them the same. They, like him, were different from everyone else. They were all distinguishable from one another, each an individual. He couldn't help but wonder; was he was going Gaga?

Left alone after everyone had returned home for the evening, to continue "socialising", alone in their rooms, on their computers, the young man wondered what the world of his dreams would be like. What if such a world actually existed? Where people were individuals, different from one another? Where the world did not seem to consist of countless robotic clones of the same person? The very thought caused him to sigh with pleasure. How wonderful, how very simple such a life would be. Trying to tell all of these clones apart, trying to pick one from another made his head spin. Were they going Gaga? The idea of being a unique individual was one that seemed so very appealing to him. He couldn't understand, not for the life of him, why they would all want to be the same. The thought of being another copy, the exact same as everyone else, sent him mad, and he wondered, were they already there? Had they already gone Gaga?

In a world where every person was the same, he'd been born to stand out. He was different from everyone else. An individual. The very idea sent them mad? Why wouldn't you want to fit in? Why wouldn't you want to be part of the group? The answers to their questions escaped them, just as the answers to his questions eluded him.

He wondered whether he was the only one who was different. Was there someone else out there like him? An individual rather than a robot? Distinguishable from everyone else? The others all spoke of the world loving them. "Someone still loves you," he'd heard them say once. At the time, he'd brushed it off. Yeah, that's them, he'd thought. But now he wondered, was there someone out there? Did he have a someone? Or, was he just going Gaga?

The question of who is really "Gaga" remained, but he was pretty confident it was them who were Gaga. It seemed to him that both he and the rest of them were miserable. But he felt less so, because his individuality had not been suppressed, and he wondered given the lighter weight resting on his shoulders, how sad must've they be, all the same? The world has gone Gaga, and they didn't even realise it.

The young man wondered whether he'd simply woken up into this strange world. He blinked, looking at the screen. He knew it had always been this way, but he hoped that someday soon, things would change and the world would be cured of their Gaga, once and for all. But for now, he pressed a couple of buttons on his watch. "To keep me from going Gaga," he said, to no one in particular, because no one was really listening, all too wrapped up in themselves to care. "I'm going offline." With one more tap, his screen went black and he smiled as he looked back up at the real world around him. "I'm disconnecting and embracing my different."