I also worried about the practicalities – didn't I need some sort of special clothing or outfits? The anxiety clawed at me, and I was flooded with fears of failure.
What if the audience didn't like me? What if I got booed off the stage? The uncertainty swirled in my mind, and I tossed and turned, consumed by the worst-case scenarios until exhaustion finally overtook me and I drifted off to sleep.
In the morning, I woke up feeling hazy, staring blankly into space. I had nowhere to be until later that evening when I was scheduled to meet Sarah.
The boredom crept in, gnawing at me, so I decided to pay my mum a visit.
"Good morning, Mum," I said, walking into the bathroom where she was helping David get ready.
"Oh, you're awake! Hope you slept well, Diana," she replied without looking up from her task.
Then, she paused and turned to me with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Ehm, aren't you supposed to be at work?" Her tone carried a subtle surprise, as though she had anticipated me being elsewhere.
Quickly, I replied, "Mum, I decided to switch to the night shift because it pays better." My voice was slightly defensive, almost as if I was justifying the decision to myself more than to her.
A twinge of guilt washed over me for not being entirely truthful about my new job, but I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the relief of sharing some vague semblance of truth with her.
I grabbed a broom and started cleaning the house, sweeping and tidying every corner until everything was spotless.
I wiped down every surface, determined to leave no corner untouched. But as I finished, a wave of boredom washed over me.
"Is this really how every day is going to be? Just cleaning and doing nothing else?"
The monotony settled in, and I headed back to my room, feeling restless and aimless. As I sat on my bed, the thought flitted through my mind that maybe I should just get a day job.
At least that would give me something to do. But then I remembered my upcoming job as a stripper.
In a burst of impulsivity, I decided to practice my moves in front of the mirror. Locking the door behind me, I stripped down to just my underwear, looking at myself in the mirror.
For the first time, I truly admired my figure. I had always had curves, but it wasn't until now that I began to appreciate how they looked.
I started to practice my dance moves, aiming for a seductive flair. I swayed my hips, bounced my backside, and let my hair fall alluringly around me.
I even tried holding my breasts, peeking at them with a coy smile, trying to embody confidence and sexiness. As I moved, I started to feel a spark of excitement, slowly replacing my initial fears and insecurities.
Maybe I could do this after all.
I couldn't help but laugh at myself as I tried out various dance moves I had seen strippers perform in movies. It felt a bit silly, but also strangely liberating.
As I twirled and swayed, I realized I had a knack for it. I felt like I was tapping into a part of myself that had been hidden away.
After some time, I checked the clock and noted that Sarah's shift at the diner was coming to an end. I decided to get ready, starting with a relaxing bath to soothe my nerves.
As I dressed, I debated whether or not I needed anything special for my new job. Unsure, I grabbed some of my saved money and tossed it into my bag, just in case I needed to buy something later.
When I stepped out of the house, I waved goodbye to Mum and David, but a heavy cloud of guilt settled over me. I couldn't shake the thought of how upset they would be if they knew about my choice.
It felt like I was betraying the values I had grown up with.
Arriving at the diner, I waited outside, counting the minutes until Sarah's shift ended. I timed it perfectly and watched as she emerged, her face lighting up with a smile.
"Hi, Diana!" she chimed, her cheerful demeanor easing my tension. But the nervousness bubbled back up inside me.
"Hi, Sarah," I replied, my voice quavering slightly. She noticed and quickly sought to reassure me.
"Don't worry, sweetie. The place you'll be working is for the successful and affluent. I doubt you'll run into anyone you know." She added a quick, "No offense," which surprisingly comforted me.
I mused to myself that I didn't really know any rich people anyway. When Dad was alive, we'd barely scraped by, and I had no wealthy relatives in sight.
Just then, Sarah grabbed my hand, pulling me along at a brisk pace. "Where are we going?" I asked, almost jogging to keep up.
"I'm taking you shopping for some outfits!" she replied, her excitement infectious. "And work doesn't start until 10 p.m., so we have just under two hours to get you ready."
We dashed to the mall, heading straight to the lingerie section. As soon as we entered, I felt a wave of discomfort wash over me.
The mannequins displayed skimpy outfits that made my skin crawl, and I wondered just how far Sarah planned to take this.
After rifling through the racks, she held up several pieces, handing them to me in a flurry. "Okay, now let's try them on!" she declared, dragging me toward the changing rooms.
Inside, I laid out the items she had selected. I couldn't help but notice how revealing they were, and a sense of shyness enveloped me.
But before I could voice my discomfort, Sarah began undressing right next to me.
Caught off guard, I felt extremely out of place. Where was I supposed to look? My eyes darted around the small changing room, avoiding any gaze toward her, who was now fully comfortable with the situation.
I was in a daze, struggling to process just how strange all of this felt.
Then, Sarah tapped me and said, "Hey, check this out! How does this red one look on me?" I finally summoned the courage to look at her, and I was taken aback.
I saw her half-naked, and I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed before that Sarah had bigger boobs than mine. They were perky and half-covered, and I couldn't help but stare.
Oh my God, Sarah is extremely sexy, I thought to myself, unable to look away. I felt a mix of emotions: shock, embarrassment, and a hint of admiration.
I didn't know how to react, but I knew I had to say something, so I stuttered out a compliment, trying to play it cool.
"Do you want to touch them?" Sarah asked, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts immediately. I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond.
"Huh?" I replied confusion etched on my face. Sarah burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"I'm just joking, relax!" she said, trying to put me at ease. I smiled too, feeling a bit relieved
that it was just a joke. "This looks really great," I said, trying to change the subject and focus on the outfits we were trying on.
Sarah nodded in approval, her expression turning serious as she began to undress me. I tried to keep my cool, thinking that maybe this was normal for her, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
She succeeded in undressing me completely, telling me to take off my underwear so I could try on the ones that fit. I felt a surge of embarrassment as I stood there, exposed and vulnerable.
"Damn, you have a nice ass!" she exclaimed, running her eyes all over my body, making me feel extremely shy and self-conscious.
I just smiled awkwardly, trying to hide my discomfort, and checked out the outfits she had picked out, trying to distract myself from the unease.
We finally chose the outfit she liked best for me, a skimpy underwear that made me feel like a completely different person.
Then, we got dressed and left the changing room, heading to the register to pay for the outfits.
As I was about to bring out the money I had kept to pay for this, Sarah held my hand, stopping me, and said, "Don't worry, hun, I'll pay." She smiled and paid for the outfits, leaving me feeling grateful but also a bit uneasy about the whole experience.
I couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that washed over me. It was already 9 p.m. when we hailed a cab, and soon, we were on our way to an unknown destination.
As the car swayed with the rhythm of the streets, Sarah casually mentioned that before being hired, I would need to go through an interview-one that involved dancing.
"Wait, what? You're kidding, right? Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I can't dance!" I snapped, anxiety tightening its grip on me.
"This is going to be a disaster."
"Hey, take a deep breath," Sarah urged, trying to soothe my rising panic.
"It's not that serious. They don't expect a full choreographed number or anything. They just want to see some confidence. You've got an incredible body; just flaunt it! They're looking for someone who can turn heads."
I took a moment to consider her words. "So, I just have to wiggle a bit?" I asked, feeling a mix of skepticism and desperation.
"Exactly! Just some sexy moves-sway your hips, shake your ass a little, and you'll totally nail it," she said, her tone lightening my mood but not completely erasing my anxiety.
We pulled up to our destination, and Sarah quickly paid the cab driver. As I stepped out onto the sidewalk, my eyes widened at the sight of the massive building looming before us.
I stood before the opulent hotel, "EXQUISITE" emblazoned above the entrance. Its luxury facade concealed a secret. "Are you sure there's a strip club here?" I asked Sarah, skepticism etched on my face.
Sarah's knowing smile hinted at the truth. "That's the charm. Discreet, exclusive, and hidden from the world. Only the elite who visit often this hotel know."
As we entered, the elegant lobby and posh atmosphere belied the truth. Beneath the refinement, a world of seduction and desire pulsed.
Sarah led me to a private elevator, inserting a key card. The doors closed, and we descended. Memories flooded my mind: my mother's struggles, David's abandonment, shattered college dreams. Tears threatened.
But I steeled myself, focusing on my purpose: survival, clearing debts, saving my mother's life.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a dimly lit hallway.
Sarah nudged me gently. "Showtime."
I nodded, wiping away tears, and donned a bold face. Ready to face the unknown.