The spa had been declining in business for ages now, but it had become unignorable. Revenue was at an all time low, and if Aloe and Lotus didn't make some money fast they would have to shut down the spa for good.

So they did what they had to do. Volunteer work, such as helping out at the school or lending a hoof at the animal shelters, had become commonplace in their lives. They did the occasional odd job in between, but even then, they were still in dire straits.

They had one final option, and though neither wanted to do it, they couldn't afford not to.

The first few times had been some of the worst experiences of Aloe's life. She felt used, like a toy that was discarded when it was no longer fun. A tiny part of her innocence was crushed with every thrust, every grunt and every artificial moan. Everything she had achieved for herself felt like it was being thrown out the window by whoever was dominating her each night.

Sometimes she would start to enjoy it, letting herself be blissfully unaware of what was really happening and imagining the act to be between her and her non-existent lover. Then the other pony would take that from her grasp by hitting her, or pulling her mane too roughly, or saying something demeaning and awful about her for their own amusement.

All she was to them was a means to an end, an object that they could use and abuse as they liked to get that high. That wave of pleasure never came over her. Sometimes with the nicer clients she would get close, but it was still too far away to reach every time.

Eventually she stopped caring so much. She just tried her best to make it enjoyable for the other pony. Better them than her.

As her head was pushed further into the pillow, she let out a low groan, hoping that the stallion would misconstrue it as something positive. It was easy to tell that this was his first time. He was a mix of too soft and too rough, never going at the right pace to keep Aloe mildly satisfied.

The first time they kissed, there was no passion in it. That was to be expected; it was just an item on the checklist for her. When he kissed her again after rubbing his hooves around her curves, there remained no passion at all. It was robotic for both of them, something which surprised her.

As things continued, the room growing hotter and hotter, no emotion resonated from either of them. It was a tired routine for her and a lifeless conquest for him. Neither of them gained anything from it, only going through with it because they both felt they had to.

Aloe's eyes moved to Lotus, barely able to make out her twin sitting in the corner, hoof between her legs. Lotus had grown to enjoy doing this more than her sister had. She enjoyed the intimacy it had and the chance to express herself sexually. She probably got all the good clients too. The stallion had specifically requested for Lotus to watch them, though she didn't know why.

He grunted and gripped the bedsheets tightly as he released himself into her. She felt nothing. Neither did he.

Lotus left the room when they were done, looking more content than either of the ponies she had been watching. Silence filled the room after the door shut with a click.

No words were said before the two went to sleep.

When Aloe awoke, she felt a warmth radiating from beside her. At some point during the night she had put her arms around the stallion. She guessed that she had done it due to craving some kind of intimacy between them, trying to make their interactions seem more emotional than they had. Or maybe she just wanted to feel close to somepony for the first time since she could remember.

The stallion stirred slightly before opening his eyes. When his gaze met hers, he looked away. He pushed her away from him and sat up, his breathing quickening. "This was a mistake."

"What?" Aloe asked, sitting up herself.

"My first time was supposed to be special." His stare was emotionless, focused on nothing and everything. "It was supppsed to mean something. But instead I got with a prostitute because I was lonely and desperate." A pause. "What am I doing with my life?" he muttered.

Aloe remained silent, twiddling her hooves together while he spoke. This was the most that anypony had said to her the morning after; usually they just left her alone in her bed, leaving in silence after paying her.

"Is this it?" he asked, half to her and half to himself. "Am I supposed to feel.. anything? Because I don't. I feel nothing." He wiped at his slightly damp eyes.

"I'm sorry it wasn't as-"

His head snapped to the side to face her. "No. Shut up. I don't care what you have to say. You're just a slut. You're not even going to remember this by tomorrow, I bet. This was worthless. Just like you." He moved closer, until he towered over her. His voice lowered to a rough whisper. "You mean nothing to me. You're nothing. I'm done with this."

He suddenly ripped the sheets off of himself and got off the bed. A bag of bits was roughly tossed to her. "Take your money." He trotted out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Aloe sat there, stunned. Nopony had ever blown up on her like that. The words stung at her, filling her with more emotion than the prior night had. Maybe he was right, maybe she was just a stupid whore who left ponies feeling emptier than before she let them have their way with her.

She got out of bed and left to take her usual shower. There was an awful smell lingering in the air and all over her body, and she needed to wash away the feelings he had left her with. She didn't know whether it was better or worse than when she felt nothing at all.

She pushed open the door to the bathroom and walked to the shower, her hooves moving mechanically. This was as common to her as actually sleeping with other ponies. It was her way to wash off all the physical and metaphorical grime.

After turning the knobs and waiting for the water to heat up, she stepped in. The water cascaded over her, but it might as well have been hot air. It made Aloe feel no better. If anything, she felt worse as her coat and mane became soaked. She sat there for a minute, just staring at the floor, letting the water fall onto her.

She eventually began cleaning herself, wincing as the body wash froze her skin. After rubbing shampoo in her mane she washed it out, resting directly under the showerhead. She remained there even after her mane was washed.

Aloe eventually got out of the shower, feeling no more clean than she had before getting in. Just like every other time. The cold air her like a speeding cart, her body shivering as she set a towel on the floor. She grabbed another and began drying herself off, staring at her reflection in the mirror the entire time.

"It'll get better," she told herself. She held onto that hope because she didn't have anything else to grasp.

Author's Note