Sherlie was aghast. Could it really happen? But she should be ready to

Sherlie was aghast. Could it really happen? But she should be ready to accept any bad news: Paul walking out on her being the worst! Her colleague had just informed her that her boss had decided to sack her, reasons unknown.

Gently she brushed her cute curls , some of which she made to caress her forehead. Then she looked at herself in the mirror. Why had Paul walked out on her? He loved her andshe had every reason to adore him . But, suddenly he also had turned out to be like many of the swingers who just want to have fun and go for a change! And now she was out of job.

Sherlie stood outside her boss's office. His cute secretary had asked her to wait. Once signalled , she stepped inside the elegantly furnished room."Dear, I'm sorry. We're overstaffed. I'll compensate with a month's salary. You're not alone, you see....out go ten of them with you."

Jobless! She thought of the pending bills, rentals,hospital charges of her father.....was this the end? She took the envelop and walked out.

She desperately wanted to talk to someone .Her father, perhaps, if he were conscious. Except him there was no one to adore her anymore. But what relief could he be for her, except caress his cute girl's back, unable to speak, now for one year, since his paralytic stroke?

She sat beside her father's bed, a mixture of feelings within her. Oh dear father, how she loved him!Slowly she saw another figure beside his bed----a young girl, in her twenties, with both her legs amputated." In an accident," said the nurse. The girl had a smile on her face which could make anyone adore her.

"Hey!Something wrong?" the girl called out to her."Cheer up baby, your Pa will be ok,right?" Shirlie stared at the girl, stunned with disbelief. The slight breeze seemed to caress her soft hair and she set it back with her hand.Sherlie got up, kissed her father , waved at the girl and walked out, her chin up with the confidence of finding a new life...ahead.