Encourage Startling Prostitute

She wasn’t necessarily unattractive, so much as startling. One couldn’t really define what was wrong with her when her looks were broken down to it’s elements. But as a whole she was alarming to look at. Her eyes were small and placed tightly together, but that style of eye has been seen on others who could still be considered attractive. Her nose was thin and long so that the ball of it looked to touch her upper lip. But it didn’t really. Her lips were thin and stretched from one cheek to the other, but that alone wasn’t unattractive either. Her hair was frizzy, with strays that floated up to catch the light, but frizzy haired women were a dime a dozen. She slumped over when she walked and when she sat, she kept the same position so that her back was practically on the seat of the chair. No combination of things made her unnerving to look at, but as a whole her visage was abrasive. Which is a hard obstacle to over come when you’re a prostitute. And her defeated personality was painted all over.

That’s the first thing that he noticed when she sat down in a booth across from him at Arbys. Though separated by two tables and a double sided bench, they were facing each other. She couldn’t help but look directly in his eyes, and he did to her as well. His eyes were so soft and caring, that she didn’t feel self conscious when she looked at him. Finally, he spoke. A soft, almost french accent. What he said was flat and without passion, “You’re hideous.”
“I…” She replied softly, still entranced by his loving gaze, unable to spew back the venomous buck-shot of insults she had on hand for moments just like this. It wasn’t the first time she’s heard this. Whether it was from “john’s”, or just random people she’d meet in a department store. But this was different. She didn’t feel anger. She almost felt relieved that he could speak so openly to her, and without malice.
“Are you a whore?” He asked. His smooth, french accent soothing her.
“Yes.” She replied. The urge to open up and tell him all the feelings she’s had, all the embarrassments and the shame she’s felt up until this day.


“I find you repulsive- I could never make love to you.” He added. Suddenly his gaze could no longer hold her and protect her from her own shame. He rose from his seat and rushed over to sit across the table from her. Holding her hands in his he whispered, “Seriously, you couldn’t pay me to throw one up you.” She lifted her eyes to meet his.
“I know.”
“Your head looks like your neck threw up, and your body has the shape of a stocking filled with feces.” He began caressing her cheek. She leaned her face in to meet his palm. It was the first time she’s been insulted where it didn’t effect her, it was the kind of conversation you’d have with an old friend, where you can embrace the honesty without any reserve. “More…” She said softly.
“You do not understand women as you have never successfully depicted one.” He chimed sweetly. A thin tear rolled down her cheek.
“Do you enjoy camping?”
“Yes.”
“Is it because you enjoy nature.”
“Yes, being in nature is the only time I don’t feel like people are judging me.” She said, weeping into his hand.
“How can you love nature, when it did that to you?”
“It’s true.”
“I wouldn’t even screw you with your dick.”
“It’s true.” She said, trying to hold back the tears.

Then, he got up. “My work is done… Go out into the world with your new found love for your self. Because no one else will love you.” She still clung to his hands as he walked away. Slipping from her grasp, he whisked through the metal doors and faded into the parking lot. She never learned his name, but he had changed her life forever. She didn’t carry the lead feeling that lived in her stomach for the last 20 years. She was free, and the world was her playground. She only wished she was in the presence of mind to thank him for what he had done. She knew, deep down that he must travel from town to town helping destitute people regain their sense of self worth. Helping others from the gutter of life. She was in awe even of his very memory, she decided that she would go back to school and continue her education as an administration assistant. She would marry, have children and live in a nice little house in a nice, quiet suburb. And all this was thanks to the mysterious man she knew she’s never see again. That is, until she ran into him while he was filling up his Chevy Lumina at the Conaco gas station. And later, when she saw him at Applebees with some friends from the local softball league. He made nervous eye contact with her, but they never spoke.