Jasmine's Place Issue No. 2 - November/December 2012 | Page 27

When her act was over, she slunk away to lick her wounds like a wounded cat. Stepping into her dressing room, she fell on the little chalice lounge chair, placed her head on the old and dusty dressing table and let the memories wash over her. She could still see her mom’s distraught face on that final day. She could still see her sister running after her … could still see her warm bed and it was all she could do to stop herself from screaming. Norma looked at her reflection again and the woman who stared back at her bore no resemblance to that young fresh faced woman twenty years ago. “O God, look at me…” She started crying so hard, she didn’t notice it at first, but when she did, it had filled the room. An exotic fragrance, a sweet fragrance, an unusual fragrance. It didn’t smell like the cheap perfume she’d been buying off dodgy sellers at dirty street corners. This was deep, smooth and beautiful. Wanting to know where it was coming from, she stepped out of the door and almost immediately bumped into the janitor. Keys and cleaning implements flew across the corridor. “Whoa! Watch where you’re going!” “I can smell perfume……it’s …” Norma blushed and hurriedly bent to help him pick up the things. “Sorry, didn’t see you there.” JASMINE'S PLACE 27 27