The mistress

Rise, dip, rise
Staring at her reflection in the mirror she smiled
Eyebrows perfectly arched
Lips expertly pouty
Eyeliner sharp enough to cut through his defences
One last check she turned 360 degrees to view her temple
The temple where men of different class worshipped
Tonight she had a meeting with the man from the island
Tomorrow the one from the mainland
She never remembered their names
After all they weren't there to exchange pleasantries
Pulling up at the hotel in her brand new Mercedes
A gift from the generous alhaji with the mansion in the Maldives
Walking into the lobby everyone turned to stare
Men undressed her with their eyes and their women glared
Making her way to the elevator she rode up to the room
To trade in her dignity for useful currency
Sitting in front of the mirror wipes in hand dollars in the other
Placing the latter in the safe inside the wall
She couldn't contain her laughter
Three more appointments she would be done with this life
Cleaning off her make up she stepped under the shower
Scrubbing away the memories as she tried not to give in to nausea
Closing her eyes she tried to focus on what's important
On her brother's condition
On the schizophrenia eating away his life
Tears mixed with water as she wept
For her mother with alzheimers
Holding her face in her hands she cried
For her father and how he died
Stepping out she dried off
Strengthening her resolve
She had to continue this
It's the only way she can be reunited with him
Squaring her shoulders she practiced her smile
Chanting in her head, she only had to do this three more times.....