London: 31 January, 2013
Thirteen strokes for the year just finishing. Closure, for a girl: putting things behind her. Thirteen of the hardest strokes, with the thickest dragon cane. Strokes that made her sob, marking the passage of sometimes-troubled times. Strokes that needed to be hard; needed to hurt; that she needed to know were administered with the utmost caring and respect.
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Fourteen strokes for the year about to start. For a girl who’d try her best, in every regard, in the twelve months to come. Sitting gingerly on the bed, given 2013’s fresh marks, as the fronts of her thighs were striped as painfully as possible.
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Crying. Hugging. The past in the past; the best of hopes for the future.
Perfect. Just perfect.
I’m happy to hear that you had such a perfect start into the New Year! All the best to you and Emma Jane for 2014.