Her other self was now Sean. Forever. Outside ofher reach for eternity.She dragged herself out of the bathroom and was startled. Only onedresser. The ...ne with her girly clothes. The one from her other selfmissing. Wiped from her existence. There were other details too. His orher touch on their bedroom gone. It had been their choice. They had tolive with it.Her head hung down she left her bedroom. When she reached the top of herstairs the guest bedrooms door suddenly opened. She knew the face. Or would you like my men to strip you?' Thecolonel chuckled, 'some women enjoy being forced, I believe...' The warning, andthe memory of the leering, unwashed thugs who'd manhandled her earlier whenshe'd been arrested at the demonstration, was enough. Her head bent in shame,the slim, attractive young student began undoing the buttons of her cottondress. In the hot, sticky darkness of the cellar, her interrogators watched avidly,enjoying the view of smooth brown skin as she tried to hide her. Eighteen, sir."SMACK!"Nineteen, sir."SMACK!"Twelve, sir."I heard a swish as he swung the cane again. I dropped to the floor screaming "NO, please!" but he didn't hit me. He just wanted to scare me.I was allowed to stand up and look at my bottom. There was no blood but the marks were terrible. I knew I wouldn't be able to sit for a week and they will need even more than that to disappear. I was ordered to knee in the corner with my hands on my head while he went to find some decent clothes for. If I was caught in a lie, oh yeah, I remember now, and make up a better one. Caring could really gum up the works. Just another danger to face in my brave new world.I tried to cover up and Sunny graciously pretended to believe me, though I had no such illusions.At 7:30 on the dot I pulled up in front of the Goldberg house, projecting cheer and confidence.Jeff came out of the house and I was shocked into silence for a moment before I started a belly laugh. It kept expanding until there were.