looked around her tiny house filled with only her things, she knew she was heading down a path that had never been her dream. She loved her job, but did she have to become the boring, staid woman while acting and looking professional? She surveyed her face in the mirror as she brushed her teeth and washed her face that night. Her skin was nice, she knew but her lips were definitely too full. Her eyes were passably pretty with the dark blue irises, but she’d always wished she had something more exciting for eye color. Perhaps a chocolate brown or a crystal green? Sighing, she put her toothbrush down and turned quickly away from her image, frustrated that she was hoping for something she could never have.
She discarded the silk robe in favor of a soft, cotton nightgown that came up to her neck with a small little collar. The neckline had tiny little rosebuds embroidered on it and her feet were tucked into fluffy pink slippers. She grimaced as she rinsed out her mouth and shook her head.
“Image,” she told her reflection. “I need to change my image.”
She lay in bed that night and considered her position. She was single but didn’t want to stay that way. She was in love with her boss, but definitely didn’t want that emotion to remain. That way only led to heartache and she wasn’t foolish enough to wish something could change in that direction. Besides, even if she could become the sophisticated woman that might catch Dimitri’s eye, he was Greek. He could never marry someone with her history. It was simply impossible. His comments at dinner tonight only reinforced that point.
So what was the next option? She had to fall out of love with Dimitri and find someone else. But how does one go about doing that? How does she find someone who might be interested in her? And just as Barbara said, Dimitri wanted a woman who knew what she was doing sexually. Helen had no idea what she was doing or how to make a move on a man. She’d had no time to date throughout high school, with her parents’ busy schedule of causes and in college, she’d been too busy trying to work and pay for her education since her parents’ salaries as teachers couldn’t help much in that direction. So here she was at twenty six with many questions, but no one to ask.
Helen rolled over onto her stomach and punched her pillow. Looking out the window at the rain streaming down steadily against the panes, she thought about her life. She had to stop wearing boring clothes. That was a given. She’d never get any man’s attention looking like an ancient grandma. Next, she’d have to get some sexual experience. Barbara was probably right. No man wanted to have a virgin in his bed. She wasn’t sure, but she suspected that most men would want someone who knew what they were doing. She could feel her face turn red in the darkness as she considered her options for getting some experience. Basically, they were non-existent at this point in her life but that was going to have to change.
In the early hours of the morning, she finally fell asleep but dreamed of wearing a bright red dress and turning to Dimitri, her smile sultry and promising everything, her eyes showing him that she truly was the woman of his dreams.
Helen woke up late the following morning and rushed around, frantically trying to get her mind off of her dream. It had been very vivid, with Dimitri touching her everywhere. Each time she thought about it, she started blushing.
She surveyed her clothing options and was dismayed to realize that none of the clothes in her closet had any femininity to them. The suits ranged from black, brown and navy with varying shades of each. She wore a cream or white silk shirt underneath all of them.
And there were no alternatives.
Sighing heavily, she took out the least severe and held it up against her reflection. No other choice, she thought and hurriedly dressed then pulled her hair back into the bun she wore it in each day.
After waking up late, the day just got worse and worse. Since she was so late, she had to hurry to the bus stop only to miss it at the last moment. Hiking through the rain, her heavy bag slung over one shoulder and her umbrella in the other hand,