**A Desperate Measure**

The worn wooden floor creaked beneath John's feet as he paced back and forth in the dimly lit living room. It had been six months since his wife, Sarah, had passed away, leaving him to care for their two children, Emily and James, on his own. The grief still lingered, a heavy fog that refused to lift. The financial burden of raising two kids alone had become overwhelming, and John had been struggling to make ends meet. It was during one of these late-night, sleepless moments that his daughter, Emily's, husband, Michael, had approached him with a proposition. Michael had always been charming, but there was something calculating in his eyes when he spoke. He suggested that Emily could...provide certain services to help alleviate their financial struggles. John had been horrified at first, but as the days went by and the stack of unpaid bills grew, he found himself considering the unthinkable. He cried almost every night at the thought of his beautiful daughter being sold into sexual services, but a part of him, a part he dare not acknowledge, seemed to...respond. It was this internal conflict that had driven him to the center today. The brochure had promised discretion and a professional approach. They claimed to cater to those in unique financial situations, offering a chance to 'showcase' certain...attributes. As he sat in the waiting room, clutching the papers and photographs of his daughter, a sense of dread washed over him. Across from him, a tasteful TV played a muted loop of serene images – beaches, sunsets, and happy families. The door opened, and a poised woman with a sympathetic smile stepped out to greet him. "Mr. ...?" "John," he supplied, standing up. "Mr. John. I'm Karen. Please, come with me." She led him to a modest room with a large mirror and a clinical examination table. A discreet sign on the wall read 'Please refrain from cellphone usage.' Karen gestured for him to take a seat. "So, Mr. John, you've brought your daughter here for consideration. Can you tell me a bit about her?" John fumbled, producing the photographs from his pocket. "This is Emily. And this," he rummaged through the papers, producing a rather conservative medical file, "is her medical history." Karen's expression remained professional as she scanned the documents. "I see. And what makes you think this might be...viable for her?" He swallowed hard. The words caught in his throat. Karen leaned forward. "It's okay, Mr. John. We understand these situations can be difficult. Let's just focus on the facts, shall we?" The air seemed to thicken, becoming heavy with unspoken implications. With a silent prayer, John stood up and gestured toward the adjoining room. "She's...waiting." The partition slid open, revealing a room set up for display – soft lighting, tasteful drapes, and an almost clinical cleanliness. And then, he saw Emily. She stood by the window, her back to them, dressed in a conservative white robe. A faint outline of a figure became apparent as she turned around. John felt a jolt. His little girl was growing up. The hardness in his pants returned, making him question his own morality. What was he doing? Karen's voice echoed in the background as she began to detail the procedures and terms. John tuned her out, lost in his thoughts. He glanced at Emily, whose eyes now met his. A flicker of understanding, or perhaps fear, danced in her gaze before she looked away. Was he truly willing to do this to his own child? The thought made his gut turn, but his body seemed to have other ideas. A shiver ran down his spine as he became aware of his own physical response. His heart racing, John realized he was at a point of no return. He could still walk away, or he could take this dark path, forever altering the lives of those he loved. The sound of Karen's voice seemed to grow louder. "Shall we proceed, Mr. John?" He opened his mouth to respond, but all that came out was a barely audible whisper. "Yes." The world seemed to pause. As if in slow motion, John watched as Karen approached Emily, a mixture of clinical interest and sympathetic understanding on her face. The evaluation had begun. John's decision would change everything. To be continued.