The moon lit a path towards the shore, as though pointing the finger of guilt at me.

I heard footsteps on the pier and I knew they were hers. I recognised the measured clickety clack of those perilously high heels only just making a safe landing with each step.

I prayed we wouldn’t be seen, but then he groaned and animal like she was drawn to her mate. The footsteps grew closer then nothing.

I heard her gasp – the shock at such treachery settling like poisonous dust particles on a clean surface.

He pulled away from me too suddenly, his shame a barrier to our closeness.

Just moments earlier we’d been locked in a hungry embrace our bodies entwined in an all-consuming passion. My dress riding high above my thighs with no consent to modesty or propriety.

We’d got carried away, a simple romantic stroll along the waterfront had led to a kiss, soon our limbs were clamped together and we were making love on the sand, oblivious to reason and ignorant of our responsibilities.

“No.” she said, softly at first, as the united betrayal found its target and wounded with intent.

“No!” she shouted, soon this sordid scene would be public knowledge reminding us that all those months of flirting and subtle caresses should have been our lot.

“Ssh Kate, please.”

He tried to calm her, tell it wasn’t what it looked like the poor simple fool. But it was too late, I was driven and now I’ve destroyed everything.


Instead of spending my inheritance on my family, my home, our future I’d squandered it all on myself.

After 14 operations and over £150,000 of cosmetic surgery I was no longer a frumpy, drab, overweigh middle aged woman, comfortable in baggy pants and elasticised waists, content to seethe with envy every time a luscious young filly with low slung jeans and a concave midriff on display passed by.

I had stemmed the flow of ageing, fooled the world, I was one of them.

My young lover raced to placate his furious spouse and I turned to finally face my accuser.

Kate sobbed and shook her fist at me; all that we’d had together was in ruin.

She spoke and I heard the last words she’d ever say to me.


“I’ll never forgive you for this Mum never.”