Copyright © Tracy Lane, 2000/2021.

Tender Mercies

Turning away from the door, I caught sight of myself in the cheval mirror I'd set up near the sofa. It showed me as I truly am; a petite young woman with long blond hair and full, crimson lips. How could I explain this, account for my sudden metamorphosis? In all the months since I had come to live with her, Aunt Cathy had never seen me as my real self. She would never understand: very few people could, even in this day and age. I've never truly understood it myself....

My name is Erica Lakehurst. This is my story. I doubt anyone will believe it, but I need to tell someone. Here is as good a place as any to start. It's a difficult story to tell and even harder to accept, but I hope it will strike a note with at least a few readers...

I suppose it must have come as something of a shock for The Boy Next Door. He and his family had moved in only a few weeks before, and when his mother sent him over to borrow a cup of sugar, the last thing he expected to see was a pair of firm, young bottom-cheeks staring him dead in the face.

Yeah, I know that sounds crazy, but I've always thought the cancan was an extremely sexy dance; the idea of whirling across a stage with my skirt raised to my chin made my heart race every time it crossed my mind...

The dream always starts out the same way.

The Door to Nowhere was open. KC gaped at this marvel in childish disbelief. His life had been a montage of daydreams and fantasies up to this point. Months ago, he'd imagined that the door might open into Narnia or some other magical land. But he'd tested that particular fancy dozens of times; he knew that the door was merely a facade, nothing else. His mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing. Yet, here he was, the door was open, and there was light coming from somewhere behind it...