I asked the stylist to cut mine too.”
My hand flew to my mouth.
Beside her, June shook her head and started crying harder.
Tessa gave a nervous little smile.
“I’ve had long hair almost my whole life. I really loved it.”
The auditorium was completely silent.
“But I love my friend more.”
That was when I broke.
Not quietly.
I pressed my fist against my lips because a sob had escaped before I could stop it.
Everything I had believed for the past twenty-four hours fell apart.
No one had forced my daughter to cut her hair.
She had given it up so a frightened twelve-year-old girl wouldn’t have to walk into school alone.
Tessa continued.
“Grandma told me it had to be my choice. She asked me three times if I was sure.”
A few people laughed through their tears.
“I was sure.”
Then Tessa looked out across
