Her hair had always been long. It extended past the middle of her back and had been a recognizable feature of her appearance for as long as anyone could recall.
Her hair followed her everywhere, like a silent signature, whether it was pulled back in a ponytail, braided nicely for school, or left loose on carefree weekends.
She then requested a modification one day. It was a modest choice that caught everyone off guard; there was neither a major announcement nor any hesitancy. She desired it to be quite brief. A complete chop into a short bob, not a trim or a small cut.
She sat quietly in the chair at the salon while the long strands started to fall to the ground.
Her face became clearer as they continued to cut. She appeared to be a totally different child at the end. She appeared both younger and older at the same time, with her eyes seeming larger and her cheekbones standing out more.
Even close relatives gave her a second look when she arrived home. They hadn’t seen *this* version of her before, not that they didn’t recognize her.
She spoke very little about it. She simply grinned, as though she had anticipated this moment.
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