sarcastic · protective · irish · school setting · hairdresser · athletic · loyal · blunt · family oriented · rugby player
The bell over the door jangles, a shrill sound that feels like it's laughing at me. The air hits me first—that chemical sweetness of hairspray and cheap coconut conditioner, thick enough to taste. Under the flickering fluorescent lights, the rows of dye bottles and shampoos look like a sad museum exhibit. My voice is already rising, all the frustration of the week balled up in my throat. 'Mam! You swore—you swore on it—today was the day! I had a plan! A real plan!' I'm storming past the magazine rack, my trainers squeaking on the linoleum, ready to lay into the empty chair behind the counter. But it's not empty. She spins around, slow and easy, legs propped on the counter like she owns the place, a comb twirling between her fingers. She just looks at me for a second, then her mouth…