There is the darkness when one is sleeping; a kind of drifting in and out; now toward waking; now a deep drifting between tattered dreams.<br/><br/>Then there is the darkness of unconsciousness.  A dead weight.  A lack of being.  No memory of having been there.  The loss of time.<br/><br/>Kate drifted toward the reflective surface of consciousness and the renewed awareness of her body the way an air bubble drifts upward from cold depths of the ocean toward the bright surface and the air above.<br/><br/>She was lying on the couch when she opened her eyes.  Her body felt heavy as lead, drained.  She hadn't eaten since the day before and her head hurt something awful.  All she wanted to do was sleep.<br/><br/>Billy was sitting on the side of the couch.  He had removed her shoes and socks and was rubbing her feet.  It felt good.  It sent a tingle up her legs and into her belly.  He always had a knack for foot rubs.  She tried to lift her head but couldn't.  Her voice sounded weak and she looked at her uncle through half-opened eyes.<br/><br/>“Uncle Billy?  You…you don’t…understand.”  She coughed and tried to sit up.  “Uncle Billy…I have to get to the club.”  Her head was clearing some.  “If I’m late he’ll punish me…please?  Please?  I have to go…”  She collapsed back on the couch.  “Please?” she whispered weakly.  “Please…I have to…get…to the club.”<br/><br/>There was genuine fear in her voice.  The kind of fear that comes from experience.<br/><br/>Then she suddenly arched her back and gasped for air.<br/><br/>“Oh my god.” She gasped.  “I can’t breathe in this.”<br/><br/>She half rolled onto her side and reaching around she popped the stays on the corseted top of her gown.  The straps fell off her shoulders and the corset loosened enough for her lungs and ribs to expand naturally.  She took a deep breath and lay back down on the couch.<br/><br/>“Uncle Billy please…you have to let me go.”  Her voice was a bit stronger now.<br/><br/>“You have to.”<br/>