All Chapters of Love Story Of A Prostitute: Chapter 51 - Chapter 58

I remembered the list of places to visit in the suburbs which I had chalked up from scratch yesterday. I had found it fun to do because I liked to see and experience new scents. Each place had its own distinct scent, especially in nature. I did not like to go to the cosmetic department of malls because there was an overload of senses. Scents had to be spread out over and surrounding me, not heaved right under my nose. Plus although I was not as averse to crowds as Mr. Boardmann, had I a choice, I would rather choose quiet places where the next person was reachable only within shouting range. "Did you like what you saw on the road less travelled?" I asked. "Yes, it was far away from the crowd. That was why I moved here in the first place. It's for my peace of mind. For me to heal. To start afresh." He said. "I'm glad that you had a relaxing afternoon at least. You look good today." I said, observing t

"I think that you are a wandering spirit and it shines much more than your features. I am apt to think that you are attractive in that sense. If you meant your appearance, which I think you do, Mr. Boardmann, then I am not sure. It keeps changing every time I see you. Maybe it's the angle of the lighting and how you feel at any one particular time. Your appearance changes with your ups and downs. You seem to me to be a very passionate man but you are not attractive in that physical way." I replied. He looked at me thoughtfully. "I have given you my honest answer. I know I have not flattered you, if you were hoping for me to say that you are a wholly attractive man to boost your pride." I said. He let out a deep, rumbling laugh. "Oh, Lila. I certainly paid good money for you. I suspect you may have concealed certain things from me, but you are dead-pan honest. I like that a lot." He said. 

I also relieved my pleasant afternoon at the boulevard, by the sea, with my books, with the piano, with music, with that scribbled note. My eyes shone just thinking about my secret admirer. "What are the loves of your life?" I asked, feeling bold enough to ask him a question. "Clara. She was my ex-girlfriend. I told you about her yesterday. I loved her so much that I could not let go. My whole life crumbled when she left. I was devastated. I resorted to alcohol and drugs to kill the pain. It became an addiction. I lost friends. I lost a whole chunk of my life. People started avoiding me. I was in and out of rehab. It came to a point when I realized that I was all alone." He said. He gestured at me with his hands, as if beckoning me. "You see, Lila I travelled a lot those days. Never grown roots to any one place. Always left after the fun or challenge, whichever came first, was over. I was easily exci

"Are you still depressed because of Clara?" I asked. "I'm not sure." He said. "She was the starting point of my downfall. When she left me, I did not care about anything else. I let go of my life. Now I'm trying to pick the pieces together but every time I try, it seems like I'm falling two steps backwards. I wonder what's the point? I keep on reliving the same day over and over again. I just could not move forward. The ghosts of the past haunt me." He said. His gaze was a confused one. His eyebrows furrowed deep. Instinctively I lay my free hand on his forehead; gently sliding my hand over those worry lines. "One step at a time. It's only human to fall back now and then. Give yourself time." I said softly. I looked at his face. He need not look older than he was. I thought that getting him to talk would be the only one thing I could do, since he did not want me to warm up his be