A Saturday Well Spent
Maria gently pivoted the girl towards the mirror as the day wrapped up. The tangled hair, a mess before, now looked more manageable and easier to handle, like a bunch of knots.
A faint yet genuine smile lit up the girl’s face, a small victory amid her struggles. Maria couldn’t help but smile back, knowing their journey wasn’t over.
With a warm tone, Maria suggested, “Hey, why don’t you come back tomorrow?” There was still more work to be done, more knots to untangle, but Maria was determined to see the girl through it, one comb stroke at a time.
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Day Two
Sunday mornings were usually off-limits for Maria’s salon, but today was an exception. As she unlocked the door, a flicker of uncertainty passed through her. Would the girl even show up?
To her relief, as she swung the door open, she caught sight of the girl’s reflection behind her. “Hey, come on in!” Maria greeted her warmly, ushering her inside.
The girl looked different today, Maria noted. Gone were the sweatpants and oversized hoody, replaced by a flowing blue dress that seemed to match the newfound lightness in her step. Her dark hair cascaded freely around her shoulders. Was she happier today? Maria couldn’t wait to find out.
Image Credit_ Shutterstock/Roman J Royce
They Spend Another Day Together
Continuing from where they left off, Maria resumed working on the girl’s hair, gently asking about her comfort level with length and what styles she liked.
Despite occasional hesitance in the girl’s responses, Maria found their conversations surprisingly enjoyable. Something was captivating about her, something Maria couldn’t quite put her finger on. Together, they spent hours in the salon, lost in conversation and the task.
However, as Maria worked, she couldn’t shake a growing concern. Something seemed off; a subtle shift in the girl’s demeanor caught Maria’s attention. She paused, her mind racing as she tried to pinpoint the problem.
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