But here I was now, 23 years old and living on my own for the first time in an apartment free of Roommates! ...and boyfriends. It was ironic that I ha... nobody to share the new found freedom with, but I was sure it would come with time. I may not have been a bombshell, but I wasn't unappealing. Besides, at first it was quite freeing. Being on my own. No brothers, sisters, roommates. No Catholic mother telling me to pray to God for forgiveness because I smiled at a boy.It was just me for once;. " Aw you poor darling," she laughed, "No boyfriend at the moment?" Afraid not; well none that ring my bell anyway." Yeah, I know what you mean."I wondered how someone who looked like she did could possibly know what I meant. She was wearing hipster jeans, cut even lower than normal, displaying an almost indecent amount of flesh and stopping annoyingly short of showing off what looked to me like quite a firm little bottom. A white, off the shoulder, peasant blouse, circa nineteen seventy was cut. I helped her into the lounge and told her to sit down, “Let me get you a drink Nikki, do you like some juice?” I asked and I could see she was gasping for some refreshment after her hobbling from school, “Yes sir, please sir that would be nice sir” she said as she sat with her right leg outstretched.“Was I early sir?” she asked as I was about to leave the room, “Oh no” I replied, “Why do you ask?” and she let out a little giggle as she glanced down at my boxers, “Cos your not dressed sir” she. He produced from his jacket pocket a brass key. It had a carving of a skull in the handle, with deep red jewels in the eyes. A thin chain was looped through the handle. Lukas gripped the key by the chain, and held it out to Catherine. He placed it into her open hands."I do hope they've been treating you well here. I know how these places can be," Lukas said. He ran his fingertip against the plain white wall and a series of bitter memories coursed through his mind."You've never forgiven me for.