Lack of sleep is a very common problem and a huge topic. I read countless articles about it not just for this post, but also because my mother has suffered for many years from a severe lack of sleep. And I sometimes have a problem as well. Thus I decided I needed to look for solutions at least for her sake. I mentioned in a previous post that I am against taking pills unless it is the last resort. Therefore, I decided to dive in and see what I could learn.

There are a number of tips that experts recommend to get a better night’s sleep. The first is to stick to a consistent sleep schedule. This means going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day including weekends. It is also important to get some exercise, although it should not be too close to bedtime. Furthermore, eating a large meal close to bedtime should also be avoided.

Gentle stretching before bed may be helpful. Taking slow deep breaths while stretching will help relieve any tension you may feel. Taking a warm bath instead of a shower before bedtime can relax you and make it easier to fall asleep. This is a classic way to wind down at the end of the day.

Another suggestion is to go outside for a minimum of 30 minutes every day. People are also cautioned to avoid nicotine and alcohol as they are both stimulants that can keep you awake. In addition, we should avoid taking naps after mid afternoon and keep them short if we decide to take one. In short, anything that makes you happy is prohibited 😦 😦 😦

It is generally accepted today that looking at computer or cell phone screens or watching TV too close to bedtime interferes with our ability to fall asleep. It is recommended instead to read a book or listen to some relaxing music. Meditating before bedtime is an even better idea.

Another important component in getting a good night’s sleep is to have a good sleeping environment. This means keeping the room dark, cool, free of noise, and without distractions. This way you train your brain that your bedroom is for sleeping or sex only.

Lastly, if you have difficulty falling asleep, don’t toss and turn or lie in bed awake. If you’ve tried to fall asleep for 20 minutes and are still awake, get out of bed and do something that will relax you until you feel sleepy ( if cleaning the house relaxes you just go for it……:-)

If none of these are helpful to you, it is suggested to contact your doctor to discuss what other options are available to you. As you can see the challenge of getting good sleep is quite common and is something everyone needs to take seriously as it can lead to some significant health problems.

 I was watching a TV show a few months ago where the host welcomed an expert on hypnosis as a guest. The expert claimed that hypnosis can be of help for anxiety, depression, and sleeping problems. As soon as he said it, I could see a scene from a movie in my mind where a man was dangling a watch on the end of a string in front of a person sitting on a chair.

He tells the person to follow the movement of the watch going back and forth with his eyes. At the same time, the man speaks in soft tones and tells the person they are getting more and more relaxed until they fall into a trance. Well, maybe this is what they do on TV or in movies, but I don’t think this is how it works in real life.

By encouraging relaxation and creating an opportunity to reorient thoughts and emotions, hypnosis may be a useful tool for enhancing sleep for people with conditions like insomnia. Hypnotherapy may also reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, both of which are correlated with sleeping problems. It has been used to treat pain as well, which can in itself also lead to disturbed sleep.

It’s important to know that hypnotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. Researchers have found that approximately 15% of people are very receptive to the treatment. Another 33% are resistant to it and aren’t likely to benefit. The remainder is somewhere in between.

Sleep hypnosis follows the same steps as hypnotherapy and involves therapeutic suggestions focusing on sleep to address sleeping problems. For example, the hypnosis session may encourage a person to feel less anxious about falling asleep or to follow a more consistent sleep schedule.

The goal is not to make the person fall asleep during the treatment. Instead, it works to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that a person can sleep better once the hypnotherapy is complete.

Hypnosis for sleep may also be combined with other types of treatment. For example, it can be used with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I), a type of counseling that reframes negative thinking about sleep. This form of focused hypnosis may also promote improvements in sleep hygiene to develop healthier sleep related routines.

I know it sounds like I’m promoting hypnosis, but that isn’t true. I’m simply attempting to summarize what I read. In fact, I have never tried this treatment myself. But if I knew of a good hypnosis practitioner, I would go see them, and not only to help with sleep………..

The pace of our lives these days barely gives us enough time to stop and rest. It can make getting a good night’s sleep seem like only a dream. It is common knowledge that sleep is just as important for good health as keeping a proper diet and getting enough exercise. In fact, getting good quality sleep improves your mood, your health, and your brain performance.

On the other hand, not sleeping properly on a regular basis can have an almost immediate effect on your health. And the truth is you cannot believe the problems sleep deprivation causes. For example, I noticed when I don’t sleep well for more than one night, I experience irritation and sensitivity in my gums in addition to a lack of energy. I was surprised as I never thought there is a link between the problem in my gums and poor sleep.

Suffering from poor sleep raises the risk of many diseases and disorders as well. In fact, sleep is an essential part of our lives and is required for optimal function. It has a critical role not only in proper brain function but in all other bodily systems too.

Over time a lack of sleep leads to a weakened immune system which increases your chances of getting sick from many different illnesses. They range from irritability and weight gain, memory problems, plus a lack of concentration which can be dangerous, particularly to those who are driving. As well as anxiety, depression, heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and more.

The average adult needs between 7-9 hours of restorative sleep per night, but this varies from person to person. Being well rested can significantly improve your quality of life. Unfortunately, the majority of people suffer from a sleeping problem sometimes for many years, without ever addressing the issue.

This condition is quite complex as there is a lot more to good sleep than simply the hours you spend in bed. Healthy sleep has three main components. The first is how much sleep you get. The second is the quality of sleep, which should be refreshing and uninterrupted. The third is having a consistent schedule for both going to sleep and then waking up.

One of the challenges especially during times of excessive stress is that our normal sleep routines can be disrupted. However, the good news is that there are many things we can do to improve our sleep. The first step is to acknowledge we have a problem. The second is to understand that our brain isn’t just resting when we are sleeping. Researchers tell us that our brain is very busy at that time. It is removing toxins and rejuvenating itself. Sleep helps prepare the brain to learn, remember, and create. Not only that, but scientists have found that everything from blood vessels to the immune system uses sleep as a time for repair.

There are many misconceptions among the public about sleep. One of them is people who think that adults need less sleep as they get older. However, this isn’t true. But in reality, sleep quality can get worse as one gets older. One of the reasons is that older adults are more likely to take medications that interfere with their sleep.

Another myth is that you can catch up on missed sleep the next night or by taking a nap. The fact is it may slightly help you, yet if you are chronically sleep deprived, a little extra sleep doesn’t help much. Studies show that even with extra naps, people ended up gaining weight, and their body’s ability to properly control blood sugar levels got much worse.

We also know that some people suffer from medical conditions that prevent them from getting enough quality sleep, no matter what they try. These conditions are called sleep disorders. The most common of these is called insomnia, which is when you have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep. Insomnia can be a short term problem that lasts a few weeks, or a few months.

Sleep apnea is another well known sleep disorder. In this case, the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep. This reduces or stops the airflow in the airway and wakes people up during the night. This is obviously a serious situation that needs immediate medical attention.

Fortunately, there are treatments available today for many common sleep disorders. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people with insomnia. Medications such as sleeping pills may also be of help. In addition, people who suffer from sleep apnea can benefit from a device called a CPAP breathe easier. A CPAP machine helps keep your airways open by delivering continuous air through your nose and mouth.

Another common problem is people who snore, which could be a sign of sleep apnea. Research indicates that snoring is one of the factors contributing to sleep deprivation. Unfortunately, snoring doesn’t only disturb snorers but those around them. Furthermore, this condition can lead to much more significant health problems than a lack of sleep. Therefore, it is recommended that snorers seek medical attention……..

Although Lucy had enough money to live wherever she wanted, she did not agree to leave the house. Rodney told her more than once that if something ever happens to him he would leave it to her. Well, the man kept his word. He bequeathed the house, and a nice sum of money to her as well. But his children, who weren’t happy with their father’s decision dragged her to court. The court ruled in her favor and this was the end of it. Lucy became a very rich woman, much more than she could have ever dreamed.

However, before Rodney died, Lucy never flew to Eastern Europe to interview the girls Sergey was sending her. Basically, she was not involved in their selection at all. But after he passed away, she decided to go overseas and personally select them. After all, she had a lot of experience in the field and knew the type of women who were suitable for the job.

Every time Lucy went away, she told Alfred she was flying to London to visit her mother. Alfred, who at first didn’t ask any questions, began to be suspicious when he saw the number of girls who arrived from Eastern Europe. At some point, he demanded to know what was going on and why most of the girls were coming from overseas. But Lucy waved him off every time he asked. Therefore, he attempted to extract some information from the ladies, yet they wouldn’t reveal anything to him. Alfred was afraid Lucy was involved in something illegal which would get him in trouble with the police. And this was unacceptable to him.

Lucy realized he was serious only after he threatened to resign. She knew she had no choice but to give him some information. Thus, she told him the girls were coming to work for her because the escort service had a good reputation. She said they knew they could earn a lot of money in a short period of time. And they could help support themselves and their families for years to come.

What she didn’t tell Alfred was that the girls owed a lot of money to loan sharks in their home countries. Working as escort girls was the only way they could repay the loans. In addition, the woman signed nondisclosure agreements before coming to Canada. They weren’t allowed to speak about their occupation with anyone other than her. Alfred took her words with a grain of salt. He personally made a lot of money working for her and didn’t want to jeopardize his job by asking too many questions.

Lucy was greedy. It didn’t matter how much money she made, it was never enough for her. The more she earned, the greedier she became. She was always looking for opportunities to hire more escorts. She decided to enlarge the house after Rodney died and add more rooms. She also resolved to bring the girls she felt were her top employees to live in her villa. They would look after the household in addition to their work as escorts.

The women were well paid and had the extra benefit of living in a luxurious house. These were things they could have only dreamed of before they came to Canada. Lucy reached her goal much faster than she thought possible. But on the other hand, she had no family and wasn’t in a relationship.

Lucy remembered that the private investigator she hired told her she had a nephew, niece, and brother-in-law living in Canada, and she wanted to meet them. She contacted the PI again and soon found out they were living close by. She asked him to follow them and get more information about their daily routines.

When the PI told her that Guy goes running every day with his dog in a nearby park, Lucy decided to approach him by going with her dog to the same park at the same time. At first, she wanted to make contact with her niece and nephew. But she liked Guy the moment she saw him. She already knew he was single and not dating anyone. Therefore, she was determined to go for it and win his heart.

Lucy never imagined she would fall in love with Guy in such a short period of time. She also adored his children. Guy was shocked to find out Lucy was Lisa’s half sister. Lisa would never have been involved in the exploitation of women.

Nevertheless, Lucy got a message from Sergey a few days before she was planning to leave Canada for Europe. He warned her she must leave the country immediately as the police suspected she is involved in the trafficking of women. Lucy always took into account that something like this could happen and she was ready for it. She was already gone when the police came to the house to arrest her. They found the foreign women in her villa and took them all into custody. They were released after a short time and returned to their home countries.

One day after returning home from his morning run, Guy had a message from Lucy on his landline asking for forgiveness. She said she loved him and his children and hoped they would find a way in their hearts to forgive her……………….

After a few weeks, the private investigator presented his finding to Lucy. Apparently, her father died of a heart attack two months before she arrived in Canada. Her father was living by himself and the police found his body after his neighbours complained there was a strong smell coming from his apartment.

However, her sister died several years before. She left behind a husband and two children. Lucy was very disappointed to hear the news as she was really anxious to meet both of them. Anyway, since Lucy liked Canada, she decided to stay in the country a bit longer. After exploring the country, she settled in Vancouver. She rented a beautiful home near the ocean. Sergey stayed with her for a while and then returned to England.

Sergey was a used car dealer as well as a loan shark and was involved in some shady business practices. He would frequently travel to Easter Europe for what could be termed “monkey business.” He made a lot of money from these deals which left him a wealthy man.

Lucy was addicted to living the good life. She spent money as though there was no tomorrow. But at some point, she needed to get a job. Since she had Canadian citizenship, she was able to legally work in the country. Still, she needed to get Canadian accreditation before she could practice as a physiotherapist.

She decided to look for a job in her field of expertise while writing the exams. She found a job at an exclusive escort service in no time. Lucy met Alfred when she started working at this service. He was responsible for sending women to their VIP customers. Alfred immigrated from England to Canada and the two of them developed a friendship within a short period of time. He worked at the company for many years and knew all of the VIP clients very well. Therefore, he would send Lucy only to their best clients.

Lucy met Rodney a few months after she started working as an escort again. He was a very wealthy businessman who was a part owner of a number of casinos in Canada and the US. Rodney paid the service a large sum of money so that Lucy would be available for him whenever he wanted to see her. He would take her with him whenever he traveled and she always enjoyed herself when they were together.

Eventually, Rodney fell in love with Lucy. He asked her to leave her job and move in with him in Toronto. He generously offered to pay all of her expenses. He told her she would have whatever she wanted for the rest of her life. Although Rondy was much older than Lucy, the age difference didn’t bother her and she agreed to live with him.

Lucy opened up a physiotherapy clinic shortly after she moved to Toronto. She employed a few therapists and was satisfied with her life for a while. But she always dreamed of being a self made millionaire. The clinic was successful still she knew she would never get rich from it. One day Sergey came to her with an offer. He suggested she open her own exclusive escort agency. He told her he could find the most beautiful women in Eastern Europe to work at the agency, and both of them could make a lot of money. He asked her to keep those details a secret because, if this information became public they could both get into a lot of trouble. Sergey knew many people in Eastern Europe. He could easily recruit women who were desperate to earn money whom he could send to Canada.

Since Lucy didn’t know anything about running an escort agency, she convinced Alfred to leave his job, move to Toronto, and help her get the business up and running. With his help and Rodney’s money, Lucy established her new escort service. At first, she hired local women to work as escorts, but later on Sergey would send young women to Toronto on student Visas. The women were indeed quite beautiful. Most of them owed Sergey money. They also came from very poor families and this was the reason they were willing to work as escorts. Some of them also had young children or ill parents and they desperately needed the money.

Sergey had contacts in the Canadian immigration system who helped make their entry go smoothly and without the usual delays. Lucy took care of all their needs when the women arrived in Canada. She treated them well and they would typically work for almost a year before returning home. They would pay their debts to Sergey and would also save money during their stay in Canada.

Nobody knew about the arrangement Lucy and Sergey had. Rodney wasn’t paying much attention as he was busy with his businesses. Unfortunately, Rodney became ill a few months after Lucy established her business. His situation deteriorated quite quickly. He was hospitalized for a while and then died.

Rodney’s children, who weren’t in touch with him for years, asked Lucy to leave their father’s house immediately after the funeral. They gave her a deadline of a few hours to evacuate the house or they threatened to take her to court………

To Be Continued……………

Approximately one year after this affair was exposed, Alfred was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his part in the operation. The police still had no clue where Lucy was, although they suspected she might be in South America. Lucy planned her escape ahead of time. She withdrew almost all of her money from the bank, so she had a lot of cash at her disposal. She could live comfortably for the rest of her life with that kind of money, especially if she lived in an inexpensive country.

Guy’s curiosity about Lucy only grew over time as she was a total mystery to him. He felt their meeting was not by coincidence and he couldn’t get this idea out of his head. Therefore, he took Don’s advice and decided to visit Alfred in jail. Many people were upset at the sentence Alfred received at his trial as they felt it was too lenient. But this was because the public wasn’t aware of many facts of the case.

Anyway, Alfred refused to meet Guy at first. Apparently, he didn’t like Guy and the feeling was mutual. However, he relented after a while and agreed to meet him. Alfred had no living relatives and no one came to visit him in jail. After giving some thought to Guy’s request, he agreed to meet with him. Yet he wouldn’t go through with it unless Guy agreed to bring him his favorite books. In addition, he wanted Guy to promise to continue doing so on a regular basis.

When Guy arrived at the prison and finally saw Alfred, the feeling he had was mainly pity and not disgust. Alfred looked gaunt and tired. The minute he saw Guy, he said he never had anything to do with trafficking women, and he was being used as a scapegoat because the police couldn’t get their hands on Lucy. Guy just rolled his eyes and didn’t say anything. He wanted to hear about Lucy and find out who she really was.

Alfred told him that Lucy grew up with her mother. Her father left them when she was 5 years old. They were poor and Lucy’s mother could barely support the two of them. In addition, she had almost no friends except Sergey, who immigrated from Eastern Europe with his family when he was 10 years old. He and his brother grew up with their mother and grandmother. Sergey and his family were also living in dire financial circumstances.

His father left them and returned to their homeland as he could not integrate into the new country. Sergey was a difficult child and was a handful for his mother to deal with. He was constantly getting into trouble at school and was caught a number of times by the police for petty theft. He and Lucy were good friends and got along very well together.

Nevertheless, despite the financial hardships Lucy managed to finish high school. She worked at a number of casual jobs to buy clothes and accessories for herself. However, she struggled to pay the tuition fees for university which were very high. Lucy always had a dream to be rich one day. This was her goal.

One day while looking for a job in a newspaper, she saw an advertisement asking for attractive young women to escort businessmen. They were offering a high salary plus bonuses. She decided to answer the ad, thinking she would do this for a while, save up to pay for university, and also help out her mother financially.

Lucy was told at the interview that the job would require her to escort businessmen to meetings and events. It might also involve having a consensual relationship with them, but this was her decision and was not mandatory. Lucy balked at the suggestion at first. But the employer told her that if she consented to have an intimate relationship with a client, it would come with a generous tip for the booking.

Lucy accepted the job offer and would try it out for a while. She felt she could always quit if it wasn’t right for her. She quickly realized that if she wanted to achieve her financial goals, she had to accept the total package. The difference in pay between simply escorting men vs. the extra sums she could make by being intimate with them was simply too large to turn down.

Lucy earned more money in a short period of time than she could ever have imagined. She had enough saved to pay for university tuition, buy a new car for both her and her mother, and live in an expensive condominium. In short, her life made a 180 degree turn. She had a few regular clients who repeatedly requested her company, which was very profitable for her.

Lucy studied physiotherapy at university and earned a master’s degree. She even worked in the field for a while, but the salary she earned didn’t come close to what she earned working as an escort. She worked on and off as an escort to support her lifestyle.

However, Lucy’s father was a Canadian and one of her goals was to go to Canada and find him. Sergey promised her when the time comes, he would join her and they would look for him together. Thus, one day she felt the time was right and she quit both of her jobs and made plans to travel to Toronto and look for him. When she arrived she met with a private investigator and gave him what little information she had about her father.

Lucy knew she also had a half sister, and resolved to look for her as well. She decided to explore the country with Sergey while waiting for the report from the PI………

To Be Cntinued………….

When Don heard that Guy was in trouble he decided to visit him. He really wanted to be there for him. Thus, one day he just showed up at his door without calling first as he was afraid that Guy wouldn’t talk to him.

Guy wasn’t surprised to see him when he opened the door. He let him in and escorted him to the living room. Don couldn’t help but notice the mess inside the house. There was stuff lying around all over the floor and it looked like Guy hadn’t put anything away since the police conducted their raid. And this wasn’t like Guy, who was always neat and organized. Anyway, the two friends sat quietly for a few minutes. Don glanced at Guy who appeared as though he aged a lot in a short period of time.

Guy patiently waited for his friend to say “I told you so.” But Don didn’t say anything. When he finally started talking, he expressed his sorrow over what Guy was going through and asked if there was anything he could do for him. He added that he was there to support him. Guy told him that the police were still holding onto his computers. They claimed they hadn’t finished checking them and as a result, he couldn’t work. Likewise, several of his clients left him after the incident was exposed. Although his name was never publically mentioned, some of his clients knew who he was dating. If that wasn’t enough, he couldn’t leave his house without someone looking at him as if he was to blame.

Don mentioned he read in the newspaper that a man named Alfred was arrested in connection with the case. He added that Alfred was the contact person who was responsible for sending the escorts to meet with clients in Vancouver many years ago……..

Don continued and said he was sorry he didn’t mention this during their conversation a few weeks ago, but it had slipped his mind. He was sure this piece of information would have turned on a light in Guy’s head, who would have immediately understood that Lucy was still involved in some sleazy business. This would have sparked his curiosity to dig deeper and find out why Alfred was still a part of Lucy’s life.

If Guy had this information he likely would have concluded he needed to end the relationship, which would have spared him from a lot of heartache…… Guy was intently looking at Don while he was speaking, but didn’t say anything. He looked tired and miserable.

A few minutes later, Guy said he had to know what happened. How was it possible that all the love Lucy showered on him and his children was fake?! She gave him so much during their time together. Guy had a hard time understanding that the gentle woman he loved took part in the heinous act of exploiting women. He was thinking about his own children, and how much they loved her, especially his daughter. He knew that her heart was broken after she found out what Lucy was accused of.

Don suggested that after the police clear Guy’s name, he should go visit Alfred in prison as he knows Lucy better than anyone. This way he might get some answers about the woman to whom he proposed. Guy looked at his friend as if he lost his mind…… why would he go visit that scumbag? He thought the man was a very unpleasant person. He never saw him smiling and wondered how Lucy could tolerate him.

The police returned Guy’s computers approximately a month after they seized them. They also came to the conclusion that he had nothing to do with the trafficking of women. They finally realized that Guy had no idea what his fiance was up to. In fact, they were pretty sure he was being taken advantage of.

But this was too little, too late. Guy’s reputation was already badly damaged. His business collapsed as he lost most of his clients. Guy was forced to use his savings since he had no source of income. The police had basically ruined his life. He even thought of selling his house and buying a condo as he desperately wanted to leave all of his bad memories behind him.

However, Guy got cold feet the minute the real estate agent started bringing people to see his house. He realized he could not proceed with the sale. He had a few long time customers left who stayed with him and believed he was innocent right from the start. They also knew he was a brilliant financial advisor and did not want to give up on his services. Therefore, they promised they would help him rebuild his business.

Michael’s, Guy’s lawyer, sued the police on his behalf for the destruction of his reputation and livelihood. The police wanted to make a deal with Guy and settle out of court, but Michael declined their offer. They went to trial and won the case big time. As a result, Guy and his children would not have to worry about their future…………

To Be Continued……………

Guy was gloomy for days after his conversation with Don. When Lucy asked him what was wrong, he gave her all kinds of excuses as he could not face the truth.

Don tried to reach Guy the day after he confessed to him. But Guy ignored him and refused to take his calls. He was angry and hurt and wanted to be left alone. Guy could barely work for days because he couldn’t concentrate, and couldn’t stop thinking about what Don had told him. He was debating with himself about what to do and couldn’t make up his mind.

Unfortunately, Guy had no one to talk to as he did not want to involve his parents or his children for that matter. He also knew that if he raised the issue of Lucy’s past with her, this would be the end of their relationship and this was the last thing he wanted. Lucy was the best thing that happened to him in years. He finally found happiness and didn’t want it to get away from him.

Lucy did not know what Guy was going through. After attempting several times to coax him to talk, she decided to give him some space. She told him she would stay at her place for a while and would be there for him when he wanted to talk. It didn’t occur to her that she was the reason for his behavior.

Guy was relieved to hear he would have some time alone. A few days later he made a decision to completely ignore what Don had told him. He would not discuss it with Lucy and would move on with his life as if nothing happened. A few weeks later on Lucy’s birthday, Guy proposed to her and she said yes. They decided their marriage would take place three months later during the university summer break.

One day Lucy told Guy she needed to urgently fly to England as her mother wasn’t well and needed to have surgery. Guy was very disappointed because he wanted to join her. But he couldn’t since it was one of the busiest periods at work. He said he would like to be at her side to support her as well as to meet her mother, but the circumstances wouldn’t allow it. Lucy was touched by his words and said she’d be back before he knew it.

Two days after Lucy left Guy had an unexpected visit from the police. They asked about Lucy and said they had a search warrant. Guy was stunned, and demanded to know what this was all about. The police wouldn’t tell him why they were there or what they were looking for. Thus, he told them he knew his rights and wanted to speak with a lawyer before they touched anything inside his house. The police ignored him, brushed him aside as they entered his house, and began their search.

Guy tried to call Lucy but she didn’t answer her phone. He didn’t know what to do so he called Don’s brother Michael who was a brilliant criminal lawyer. Michael told him he was out of town but would be back the next day. He added he would find out what the police wanted from him, and what the search was all about.

Guy’s house looked like a war zone when the officers finished their work. They took all of the computers in the house. It didn’t matter how much he tried to convince them he needed the computers for his work. But the police wouldn’t listen to him and took them away. They stated he should be prepared to come to their station for questioning.

Guy was exhausted after they left. He kept calling Lucy but she didn’t answer his calls. Michael called half an hour later and told him Lucy was accused of trafficking women……. Guy almost collapsed when he heard what his attorney had to say. He kept saying “this can’t be, there must be some kind of mistake here.” Michael said the police arrested Lucy’s partner whose name was Alfred. The Toronto police had already contacted Scotland Yard in the UK asking for Lucy to be arrested. Michael added that the situation was very serious and the police had a lot of evidence against her.

Over the next few weeks, Guy felt as though he was living in a nightmare. He was repeatedly questioned by the police who refused to believe that he didn’t know anything about his fiance’s occupation. The police were also certain that Guy was lying when he told them Lucy went to visit her Mom in London England.

They were sure he was trying to protect her as their colleagues in London checked this information and said Lucy never arrived in the UK. When they visited her mother, they realized she was indeed ill. She was suffering from Alzheimer’s and was living in a special institution. They were told by the staff that most of the time Lucy’s mother could not recognize anybody.

Anyway, in addition to being investigated, the Toronto police tapped all of his phones. While Guy was being harassed by the police for something he didn’t do, Lucy was free as a bird and nobody knew where she was. Guy couldn’t work as the police wouldn’t release his computers. Besides, he was in a bad emotional state and could barely force himself to get out of bed in the morning………..

To Be Continued………….

Don was very happy for Guy when he heard he was dating Lucy. The more he heard about her the more anxious he was to meet her, as she had changed his friend’s life for the better. Guy sounded cheerful every time they spoke. There was no sign of the gloomy and miserable person Guy once was, which was really incredible. He kept telling Don how happy Lucy made him and he was thinking of proposing to her soon.

Anyway, when Don’s father suddenly got sick he came to Toronto for a visit. Guy didn’t know even he was in the city when he received a phone call from him. He said he was in his neighbourhood and wanted to drop by. Guy was by himself and was happy for some company.

When Don walked in the door he thought he would finally meet the woman who made his friend so happy. But Lucy wasn’t at home and wasn’t expected to be there anytime soon. The old friends caught up with each other. Every time Guy mentioned Lucy he had a twinkle in his eyes. He was deeply in love with her.

Don asked Guy if he had a picture of her. Guy went to the bedroom and brought a framed photo of both of them from a vacation in Paris. Don looked at the photo and froze. He immediately recognized the lady in the picture. Guy described the trip in glowing terms, but Don was miles away. And then Guy mentioned that Lucy’s birthday was coming up this weekend and he was going to propose to her.

Don almost dropped the picture and said he had to go visit his father in the hospital and left the house. Don drove around aimlessly, as he did not know what to do with himself. Under different circumstances, he would consult with his father Eddie like he used to before he got sick. But Eddie underwent surgery a few days before and was still in intensive care.

Anyhow, after driving for approximately two hours, Don decided to go and see his father. When he got there his sister was sitting next to him. She was reading a book while Eddie was sleeping. She was surprised when she noticed her brother as he stayed with their father for several hours earlier that day. Eddie was lucky as he had a very devoted family. His wife and three children hardly left his bedside since he was hospitalized. They were sitting beside him in shifts.

However, Don told his sister she could leave and he would stay with their father. A few minutes after Don arrived, Eddie opened his eyes. He looked at his son who looked preoccupied, and whispered “what’s wrong?” Don answered that everything was OK. But Eddie gave him a look he used to give him when he was a child which meant you can’t fool me….. After Don left the hospital, he knew exactly what he needed to do……

Don called Guy the next day and told him he needed to speak with him about something very important. He told him to come over to his parent’s house as there was no one there and they needed some privacy. Guy was sure he was going through a hard time and needed someone to talk to and agreed to meet with him.

After Guy’s arrival, they sat for a few minutes without speaking. Don felt uncomfortable as he knew the minute he would start talking, he would drop a bomb on him. He couldn’t even look Guy in the eye. Then he told Guy that he knew Lucy. Guy said OK, why didn’t you say so earlier? Don was silent for a moment, and then he said you wouldn’t be happy to hear under what circumstances we met. He told Guy he met her a few years ago while on a business trip to Vancouver.

He called an escort service to have a woman meet him in his hotel room and she was the one that was sent………. She introduced herself as Lola. Don said this happened more than once. Guy turned pale while his friend was talking. He wanted to say something but the words never left his mouth. He composed himself and said you must be mistaken, it has to be someone else. But then he remembered that his friend had an excellent memory and if he said this is what happened, it had to be true.

After a few moments, he shouted at Don “Damn you. Of all the women you had to hook up with, it had to be her?!” Don explained to him that this happened a long time ago. He said that the last thing he wanted was to hurt him, but he had to tell him. Don said maybe she needed to earn money at the time and this was the only way she could do it. He added that she told him she came to Canada to look for her father who left her and her mother when she was a little girl.

Don mentioned that Lucy/Lola told him she had a sister in Canada too. Nevertheless, when Guy left Don’s parent’s house his heart was broken. He was so angry that he didn’t know what to do with his anger. Guy didn’t say anything to Lucy at first because he wanted to think about it and he did not want to say anything he might regret later. After a while when he thought he was ready to put his cards on the table he didn’t know how to approach her and discuss it…….

 

To Be Continued…………

 

Guy and Lucy started dating and quickly became a couple. Lucy would invite his children over to her house and would spoil them with small presents each time she saw them. She had a great rapport with them, especially with Emma. Emma would call her and ask for her opinion on all kinds of topics. Lucy became not just a trusted advisor or confidant, but also her best friend.

Despite the fact that Lucy and Guy were dating for a year, they did not live together. This was because Guy kept postponing it. Although Lisa was gone for a long time, Guy was reluctant to take this next step as he couldn’t let go of her. In addition, deep down inside he also enjoyed the freedom he had and was used to it. Even though Guy and Lucy were a couple, each of them had their own friends and their separate lives. There were days they did not see each other and Guy liked it that way. They gave each other the space they needed and it worked beautifully. 

Lucy had her own physiotherapy clinic and was a very busy person. She would get a lot of phone calls even during the evenings when she was at home. She had a manager named Alfred who ran the clinic for her and would regularly call her at home. Lucy would tell Guy that Alfred is very dedicated to his job and she wouldn’t be able to manage without him.

Alfred didn’t have much of a personal life as his life revolved around his work at the clinic. He and Lucy were friends and he would come to her house quite often. Guy thought Alfred was a weird person. He never saw him smile and couldn’t understand how Lucy could be friends with him.

Anyway, before Guy’s kids went away to college, they tried to convince him to move forward with the relationship with Lucy. They wanted him to ask Lucy to move in with him as they didn’t want him to stay alone. At first, he declined to do anything. He confidently stated he enjoys his private time and added that couples can spend time apart as well. But then he saw they wouldn’t give up on their agenda, he decided to go for it and ask Lucy to move in with him.

However, he didn’t think that she would ever part with the castle she lived in and move out. He was caught off guard when she accepted his offer. She said she would also keep her house as she has many memories there. She and her husband both had offices in the house and she wanted to keep them as they were. In addition, she has staff that lives there and she doesn’t want to uproot them. Guy was impressed by her sensitivity and kindness towards her employees.

The chemistry between the two of them was wonderful and Lucy treated Guy’s children as if they were her own. She would often go to her house and sometimes spent the night there. Guy never asked her why she did that. He thought it was because she was working late at night and didn’t want to disturb him.

Lucy had no friends at all except Alfred, which surprised Guy. She also didn’t like to join him when he socialized with his friends, even though she was a friendly, outgoing person. And if one of his friends came to visit, Lucy would always find a reason not to be at home. Lucy and Guy had very few pictures of the two of them together. The reason is that Lucy didn’t like to have her picture taken, as she felt she wasn’t photogenic. As a result, you could count the pictures of the two of them together on one hand.

Furthermore, Guy had a childhood friend named Don who was a naughty boy. He was divorced three times. He liked women, especially young ones. He would constantly flirt with them even when he was married. He would also have relationships with other women too. Thus his marriages didn’t last for more than a few years each.

Don was a businessman and traveled extensively across Canada and around the world. He liked to invite female escorts to his hotel room when he was traveling. He would tell his friends it was exciting to be with a different woman every time. It was clear that he was a man who was addicted to sex.

After Guy lost his wife, Don tried to convince him to follow in his footsteps. He told him it was fun and he wouldn’t have any obligation to any woman. But Guy was disgusted by the idea. As much as he liked Don, he didn’t want to hear anything about it.

Anyway, Don moved to LA after his first wife who was an American decided to move back to the US and took their children with her. Don has two children, a boy and a girl who he adored and couldn’t bear the thought of being apart from them. He would occasionally come to visit family and friends in Toronto and would always get together with Guy when he was in town……

To Be Continued………………

 

Guy’s friends decided to take the bull by the horns. They tried introducing him to single women they knew and found an original way to do It. They would send the women to meet with him to get financial advice in the hopes they would develop a personal connection.

Guy wasn’t very happy with it at first as he felt his friends were interfering with his personal life. But they were determined to persist with their plan until he gave up and started dating again. But unfortunately, no serious relationships came from their efforts. However, all of this changed when his children encouraged him to remarry. They told him this is what their mother would want. Although they were young, they understood he wasn’t doing enough to start a new relationship let alone maintain one.

Nevertheless, Guy would run early every morning in the park near his house. He would take Ritchie the dog with him and they would run together. In fact, he would go running with Lisa every morning before she got sick. This was their quality time together. They would talk about their plans for the future, and what was going on at work among other things without any interruptions.

Guy and Ritchie, would meet other people out with their dogs after they finished running. Ritchie would play with the dogs, and Guy would chat with the owners. One day after Guy finished his run, he went to meet his buddies and he saw a lady he hadn’t seen before with a beautiful husky. At first glance, she looked a little like Lisa. When she started talking, she sounded a bit like her too.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Then he noticed she had an English accent. He was stunned for a moment and caught himself staring at her. Then he felt embarrassed and shifted his vision elsewhere. The woman saw what happened, started laughing and slowly walked towards him. He apologized and said, “I’m sorry, you remind me of someone. She said “don’t worry about it” and introduced herself saying “I’m Lucy.” At the same time, Ritchie was also staring at Lucy’s beautiful dog.

The two of them started chatting and Lucy said she was a physiotherapist. She said she moved to Toronto from London England after she married a Canadian man. She suddenly had a sad look on her face and added that her husband had unexpectedly become quite ill and recently passed away. However, she decided to stay in Toronto after his death.

Guy didn’t want to speak about his personal life but he could relate to her story about losing her husband. He quietly mentioned he was a widower and had 2 children. Lucy said she had none. Guy liked her but thought that she gave him too much information too quickly and he felt awkward.

He didn’t ask for her phone number when they said goodbye but she said “maybe we could go for a coffee one day.” He smiled and said “maybe we will,” not wanting to commit to it. He then tugged on Ritchie’s leash and had to pull him away from Lucy’s dog. When she saw this, Lucy said “what a smart dog. He recognizes a good thing when he sees it and doesn’t want to let it get away from him.”

Guy couldn’t stop thinking about Lucy all day. Something in her fascinated him, yet he couldn’t put his finger on it. She was a pretty lady and looked like a strong person which he really liked. On the other hand, he thought she was a bit too pushy. A few days later Guy met Lucy in the park again. This time she behaved as though they were old friends and gave him a kiss on the cheek which embarrassed him.

Later on, they went out for a drink and Lucy invited him over for dinner at her house. When Lucy gave him her address, he knew exactly where it was. The Bridal Path was one of the most prestigious neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Guy was stunned when he arrived there by both the size of the house and how beautiful it was. It was designed by the most accomplished designer in Toronto. The house was spotless and there was nothing out of place. Guy felt uncomfortable even touching something because he was afraid he might damage it.

Since Lucy said she worked as a physiotherapist, he assumed she inherited the house from someone. Lucy told him her husband was a professor at a nearby university. He was curious how she could afford a house that size. Still, he didn’t have the courage to ask her about it.

After they had a drink, Lucy escorted him to the dining room and dinner was served by two members of the staff working in the house. They were young ladies who looked like models and barely spoke English. Guy really had a good time that evening and he couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed himself so much……

To Be Continued……………