She slowly slid down into the hot water in her bathtub, and let out a long sigh. She allowed the steam, and aromatherapy bath gel to relax her, as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Pictures of the night before flashed through her head like a movie. She tried to think of something else, but all she could see was his hairy body all over her. She could smell his strong cologne and sweaty skin. She could even smell the scotch he drank that always lingered on his breath.

She began scrubbing her skin, as hard as she could trying to wash away his touch. Even though he had been her longest client, she still wasn't use to him. She still couldn't stand his touch, she even began to hate hearing his voice.

Her skin began to turn red, but she didn't care she kept scrubbing. She hoped to wash away her shame, and possibly gain some of her dignity back. What she was trying to cleanse was more than skin deep.

She hopped out of the tub in a panicked rage, and rushed to her bathroom cabinet. She grabbed a bottle of aspirin, and popped open the cap.

Tears rolled down her cheek as she ran the sink water, and shoved as many pills in her mouth as she could. She held them in her mouth debating on what she was about to do, as her hands trembled in fear.

She looked in the mirror at the image that faced her, and lowered her head in shame. While others saw her as beautiful, she saw an ugly monster. She became someone that she would have despised years ago.

She spit the pills out into the trasch can next to the sink, and laughed at herself for even thinking of killing herself.

"What am I doing?" She asked herself as she pulled the stopper out of the bathtub.

She stood there silently watching the water drain from the tub imagining that was what her life was like. Her whole life was just going down the drain. She had become a woman she didn't even recognize. To think just three years ago she was married, and throwing dinner parties. Now she was single, and sleeping around in hotels to make ends meet.

After getting dressed she decided to go to her local Barnes & Nobles to get a self help book. She needed some encouragement in her life right now. She thought about going to therapy, but knew she would never feel comfortable talking with a stranger.

*************************************************

The bookstore was more crowded than she expected it to be, and she cursed herself for wearing a sweat suit. She planned to grab a book, and go but found that difficult with the large amount of books to choose from.

She read the back of a book called "Encouragement For A Wounded Soul".

"That's a good book." She heard a male voice say.

She looked up to see a man with a few books in his hands looking at her.

"And how would you know?" She asked looking back down at the book.

He took the book from her and opened it, and handed it back to her. "Because I wrote it." He laughed while pointing to his picture that was inside.

She laughed along with him for a moment.

"Are you a reader?" He asked.

"Infact I am." She said while tucking the book under her arm.

Kamille would read anything she could get her hands on, she had been like that since she was a child.

She fingered through more books on the shelves, looking to see if anything else sparked her intrest.

"What kinds of books do you like to read?" He asked.

"All kinds...I just enjoy reading." She answered.

He attempted to gain eye contact with her, but she quickly looked away.

"Well I hope you enjoy the book." He said before walking away.

She watched him walk down the aisle towards the front of the store. He stopped in mid step, and turned and faced her. She quickly looked away, and began flipping through a book.

Her heart began to flutter as he began walking back in her direction. She wondered what he was doing, and why he was coming back. Did he forget something?

"Hey...would you mind going out to dinner with me?" He asked looking into her eyes.

As badly as she wanted to say yes, she knew she couldn't. Her number rule was no dates unless their business, and no relationships.

"I'm sorry but no." She said before quickly walking down the aisle.

She walked as fast as she could towards the register, and silently prayed that there wouldn't be a line. She knew it was a shot in the dark because of how crowded the store appeared to be.

Just as she suspected there was a long line of eager readers waiting to purchase their books. She stood behind an older lady slightly out of breath from walking so fast.

"Are you alright dear?" The woman asked looking at Kamille.

"Yes...just in a rush." Kamille answered.

The woman turned back around and faced the register. Kamille wanted to turn around and see where the guy was, but she was far too nervous.

She felt embarrassed that she had run away so fast like that. She knew she had to get away fast though, before he kept insisting and she budged, and broke her rule.

She didn't look back until she had purchased her book, and was leaving the store. Their eyes met for a moment, and she couldn't turn away. Finally he broke their gaze and she left the store in a hurry.

She didn't need to worry about any man right now, she needed to get some self help.