It was a cold, wet morning in the small town of Northall, situated in the picturesque area of LU6. The sun had been hidden away by thick cloud since the early hours of the day, giving the town a dismal, depressing atmosphere. Everyone seemed to be in a rush, eager to be out of the cold as soon as possible, but for one person the rain was a blessing.
At the edge of town, situated along a small sidestreet, was an unassuming looking building with a large window that looked out onto the street. Although the window was covered in a thin obscured film, those that knew what they were looking for could make out the silhouette of a woman in the window, the subtle movements of her body the only tell that this building was anything other than an ordinary residence.
The building was, in fact, a massage parlour, and to say that it was busy would be an understatement. Every day, dozens of tired and stressed individuals would flock to the building in search of respite and relaxation. During the day, the menu of services on offer featured all manner of massage therapies, some targeted at specific areas of the body, while other offered full-body relaxation packages.
At night however, the parlour became something of a different beast. From around seven onwards, the lights were always kept low, and soft music could be heard emanating from behind the heavy oak doors. Those that chose to enter were handpicked by the woman in the window, their desires told and then fulfilled within the secrecy of the walls.
Sam had been a patron of the parlour for almost a year years now, but each visit produced the same sense of excitement and anticipation that he had felt when he first visited. As he waited outside for the door to be opened, he felt the thrill of the unknown coursing through his veins. Inside, he knew, would be a world of pleasure, of relaxation and exploration.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door opened and Sam stepped through into a realm that was almost overshadowed by the heavy curtain hanging before him. He had expected the room to be dark, and yet it wasn’t. In fact, it was lit by multiple low-lights and soft music that barely registered above the sound of conversation.
As he made his way timidly through the room, Sam could feel the eyes of all the customers burning into him. Everyone seemed to be sizing him up, judging his appearance, his mannerisms and even his age.
Fortunately, It wasn’t long before Sam located a suitable therapy room and within moments he was stripped down to nothing more than a pair of boxer shorts.
The therapist entered the room moments later, her presence immediately bringing a sense of calm to the atmosphere. She glided gracefully towards him, her hands drifting lightly over his body as she moved. His body responded almost instantly to her touch, and he felt himself relax as the familiar fragrances and textures of the massage oils filled the room.
The massage was intense, but in a good way. It was almost as if his body was unburdening itself of all its stress and worries and all that was left was a deep feeling of peace and relaxation. The therapist seemed to move between him and his body, exploring the depths of his muscles and relieving tension. He could feel her hands upon his back, and then his legs, as each and every movement was explored, each twinge or ache tended to with delicate precision.
By the end of the session Sam felt completely refreshed. His body felt cleansed and energised, as if new life itself had been breathed into him. He thanked the therapist, who smiled in response before escorting him out of the room and back into the warm embrace of the waiting room.
He soon found himself back outside in the cold, wet street where he had started, the effects of the massage still lingering over his body. He felt a wave of relief come over him, and he knew he’d have to return soon enough to experience the same sensation of pure relaxation.
Until then, Sam could think of nothing but the therapeutic effects of the massage and the blissful sense of calm he’d experienced within the massage parlour. He crossed the street, the rain still pelting down, but now there was a spring in his step as he returned home. He smiled to himself, feeling oddly rejuvenated and relieved in the knowledge that he had found in Northall LU6 the perfect place to relax and heal.