In the middle of the seminar, I'd stepped out to deal with a call and once finished, was pausing to take a breath on the balcony before going back in, when a soft female voice at my left ear whispered "you never asked".
The smell of her was fresh like vanilla, and I could feel her body close to my shoulder. And as I turned to face this gorgeous young woman, I saw her face had a wide smile with mischief in her eyes. Her shoulder length dark brown hair and arched eyebrows were offset by her elegant light pink lipstick that matched her tanned face well. Her rich brown eyes sparkled in glee at surprising me - as the puzzled look on my face must have expressed the thoughts travelling through my head.
As I stumbled for her name, I took in what she was wearing - my eyes were drawn to the nicely proportioned cleavage with her pale blue dress - a one piece halter neck down mid-thigh that highlighted her slim figure. Her sheer stockings and elegant black shoes made her legs look fabulous - and I returned to her eyes and started with "wow you look fabulous"
She chuckled softly and said, "you don't recognise me do you?" with a smile on her face, finding the situation even funnier rather than taking offence.
She had the advantage of me completely, until she said "you rescued my puppies" and my face must have shown the cascading thoughts, recognition and realisations - she laughed softly once again (I need to hear more of that laugh). As I reconciled the difference between the delightful sight before me and the painful sad memory of that first day.. I was in awe "Sara - wow! you look absolutely ravishing! Where have you been for the last 3 months?".
==
It wasn't the best day to be at the beach that day, the wind had picked up since dawn and it was chilly if you weren't moving. The white sand looked fabulous against the clear blue water that was warm to be in, but out of it and slightly damp it was cool and getting cooler.. I had finished my run on the beach so I was jogging with the dog back to the wash down area. On the sand track I passed what appeared to be a woman, slim-ish, average height, rugged up for a snow storm heading in the same direction but struggling to walk across the soft sand with her 2 little French Bulldogs, one ahead and one behind. My lab-cross paused to sniff one of them and then bounded to catch up, stopping to accept the lead at the top of the last dune where I was waiting. I clipped it on, kept walking and was almost in the hose-down area next to the car park when I heard a wail behind me.
The woman I had passed looked to have been reaching down to scoop up some doggy-do when the dog at the front pulled away and started racing towards the car park. It wasn't a big dog but was travelling with surprising speed with no hesitation about the cars coming in off the busy road. The woman collapsed onto her knees and as I watched, the second dog escaped as well, and sped after its mate - towards the oncoming cars. She slumped in the sand holding her hands to her chest, with a look of immense pain on her face - tears in her eyes looking our way expecting the worst.
Having seen the start of the process, I'd unconsciously moved towards the little dog to block its path and as the first pup came within reach I trod on the lead trailing from its neck. Thankfully the distraction of my lab-x helped and it didn't hurt itself as it came to a sudden stop - they were sniffing each other as the 2nd dog came through. Doing the same thing, I gathered all 3 leads and stood, shouting - "are you ok?" She nodded and I indicated we would wait for her just off the path. I headed towards the hose-down area to get salt and sand out of the dog fur - knowing it would also give the woman some time to make her way to us.
The dogs were enjoying playing with each other, so hosing them all down wasn't hard - I was surprised at how fun the little dogs were. I had just finished up as she made her way into the wash up area looking slightly less grey but still carrying herself very tenderly. Sitting gingerly on the steps she was grateful for my help and repeated several times that the dogs were all she had in the world. I wondered about that comment, but didn't have much time to do more than help her and her animals to her car (that was all she let me do) and get back to my own before I had to go.
It was several weeks later when I met her at the beach at the start of my walk, so we walked together from car park to the beach. She recognised me straight away and introduced herself as Sara - immediately then going into a heartfelt apology and thank you speech. She looked like she was in far less pain and I almost didn't recognise her, but still held herself with some stiffness.
I held up my hands to stop what sounded like a rehearsed nervous outpouring and replied "Thanks, but it's all good. It was no problem, you would have done the same." I paused "Are you feeling better today? you looked in some pain last time we met"
"yes and no" she answered relieved that I had accepted her thanks "I have 3 surgeries planned and the first didn't go so well" she said.
Sara then mentioned she was trying to get healthy again.. but wasn't saying much more so I left it. We walked to the beach chatting about her young dogs and when I went off up the beach for my run I didn't see any more of her that day.
The next week she was waiting at the start of the path for me, with a big smile on her face.
"great to see you again" she said "I saw your truck drive in as I was getting Dumb and Dumber out of the car" indicating her two puppies (that looked a lot like Lilo and Stitch).
"You're looking a lot happier than last time" I replied also happy to see her happy
I was hesitant to pry but wanting to express some concern I tried with "is your health getting better?"
"It'll be a long road but yes thanks" and as we walked down the path to the beach she briefly described her plan to have breast reduction and physio to get healthy again.
"Healthy again? you said that last week - what does that mean?" I asked - she looked at little over weight but not sick
It seems that Sara had been in a bad relationship with a domineering and forceful man who was obsessed with her natural but huge H cup breasts. She wasn't into bondage but he was, and at first she enjoyed the excitement but after months of being abused, frequently bound and in pain she started considering her life options.
"I woke up one morning with the sole intention of getting out, whether that be suicide or leaving I didn't care" she said
Long story short, she managed to get out and made her way to a friend's house, but her family betrayed her and her tormentor dragged her back. So she escaped again in complete anonymity and it had been a year now living in fear of being found. She'd moved cities and had a small apartment with a part time job at a local restaurant. At first she had no one to call a friend and was afraid to go out. Her 2 dogs were her world and they have helped her do more socialising.
When we met the first time she'd had the first of her surgery and wasn't meant to go out - but needed to get some fresh air. After tripping over on the sand when I first saw her, her doctor said she was lucky not to have injured herself by stretching her stitches so early, but tearing several of her stitches had revealed a complication in the healing process so that was something positive. She'd been housebound for a week and was now able to walk with her doctors consent.
Her face was clear of pain as she was telling me this, although she still moved with care. I noticed as she was talking how much was hidden by her bulky wind jacket - she must have been huge.
We'd reached the beach area and both the dog and I needed to run, so I farewelled her and wished her all the best "see you soon" I said "oh I never got chance before - my name is Todd"
==
The wind blew bleakly across the beach, rain pelting and the waves crashing into sandy foam at the edge of the sand the next time I saw Sara
She was rugged up and cold.. in contrast to me with just my shorts and a wind jacket open to the waist
She'd been on the beach and as I made my way back to the path I noticed the dogs ahead of me, then Sara.. sheltering against the wind
"Hi Sara" I shout out and she slowed, turning around "How's things?"
"Aren't you cold?" was the first thing she said, before restarting "Sorry - rude of me - Hi Todd - I'm freezing!"
"Hot blooded and not a great fan of clothes" I said flippantly, sweating after my run along the sand "helps when I've been exercising, regardless of the weather"
"Yeah Docs orders are 'Walking Only' for me" she said sadly "one day" she adds
"Sorry to hear, I'd like to see you with less on, and more bounce in your.. step too" I said with emphasis
She laughed at our ongoing joke "Me too, we have that in common" she said wistfully, Smiling happily as she turned and headed down the path to the car park with me
We chat for a bit and as I approach the entrance, I offer to take the dogs into the hose down area
"Your puppies look like they need a good hose down to get the sand out of the nooks and crannies" I say, smiling at her and her chest as I take her boisterous and happy French Bulldogs
"One day it'll be my turn to do that" she says with a big smile sitting down to watch us -
"I can hardly wait"
==
Several times each month, mostly on weekend mornings we met and chatted about how things were progressing as we walked down the path. Sara was gradually coming out of her shell but didn't go into any more detail about her past. But each time she appeared happier and healthier - and happy to see me, laughing at lame jokes that got more suggestive as time passed.
We spoke about my situation, my long-time wife had suffered a mental illness that effectively made her a Senile middle aged woman - I visited her every day for several hours, but as she was in a secure facility there was not much more I could do.
The Summer weather had begun to cool ahead of Autumn and one week she looked sad.
"How are the puppies?" I'd say as I knelt down to pat the friendly French Bulldogs called Dumb and Dumber - lovely energetic dogs, but with short attention spans and with no real endurance.
"They are friendly, warm and eager to get out" she said smiling ".. and so are those two!"
I looked up and laughed back with her - about to say something more but the concern on her face stopped me.
"Will you still be here in a couple of weeks?" she asked with a frown as we headed towards the cars
"Every week - the dog and I still need to get out whether its rain, hail or shine! What are you worrying about?" I responded
Her face broke into a smile "I'm so glad, I love the idea of getting out here regardless of the weather" she exclaimed "I wanted something to look forward to, because the next lot of surgery is next week"
We chatted for a bit and then as I headed off I said "Good luck with everything, see you in 3 or 4 weeks then" I said hopefully
