“All right, no shaving my head, but what about cutting my hair?” I ask my surgical coordinator.

The woman on the other end of the line hesitates. “So many people ask me this question, Corinna. Let me ask you the question back. Why?”

I toss my thick mane of hair over my shoulder, where it cascades effortlessly to the middle of my back. It’s gorgeous—probably no one in their right mind would ever think of taking scissors to it. But I need to put my affairs in order. And if I don’t make it out of surgery alive, I somehow don’t think they’ll consider my hair an organ to donate.

I don’t mention that to my surgical coordinator.

“All you people have mentioned to me is how exhausted this procedure is going to leave me for months. Months! My hair reaches the middle of my back and is as thick as a blanket. If I cut it, not shave it despite the grossness of not being able to shave within a week of surgery…” Temporarily diverted, I go on a mini rant. “Seriously, it’s a good thing my boyfriend is amazing and can take my leg hair having its own five-o’clock shadow.” I hear laughter in my ear as I continue. “I read the surgical materials about not shaving within so many days to avoid infection. I also understand people do things they regret later. How could donating my hair be something I’ll regret? It’s hair, right? It will grow back.”

The silence on the other line tells me I scored a point. “There’s nothing preventing you from doing this, Corinna. As long as you’re sure. Surgical patients can be extremely emotional when the procedure is over. I don’t want you to have distress when you will need that energy.”

“Excellent. Then we’re in agreement. I’ll just call my salon to make sure they can fit me in as the last appointment today.” I don’t bother telling her I’ve already done that. The people I want there with me are going to take a while to reach.

Medusa stares back at me in the mirror. With fourteen braids sticking out from all over my head, I’m certainly doing a great imitation of the Greek monster. Though I don’t think she’s being as pampered as I’ve been. So far, I’ve been treated to a manicure and pedicure, even though I had to decline putting on polish since it’s flammable when you have surgery. I’m also getting treated to an upper back and shoulder massage as I wait for some of the most important people in my life to descend on the salon. All of the consultants at Shimmer, the salon I’ve been going to since we first moved to Collyer, have stayed behind to provide their services for free.

They’re getting one hell of a tip tonight and dinner delivered from the local Chinese place.

I reach up and finger one of the crazy long braids. One side of my mouth tips up in the mirror as my fingers trail over the length to the ends where a piece of paper is attached. Every member of Shimmer had a hand in braiding my hair, but only my longtime hairdresser, Gail, will get to cut one braid. Just one. The rest are for my family and me to deal with. Gail will trim up what was left of my hair when it’s done.

For so long, I worried so much about what people thought about my looks. I was a magnet for every dickless wonder with wandering hands. Then I fought back the systematic stripping of my self-worth during my captivity. Then there was hearing my own internal debasement from Addison’s lips. I shake my head, braids with little notes attached to the ends flying everywhere.

My Colby. He paid so much for the pain he never intended to cause. My fears about my worth are what prevented me from going after the truth. There’s a saying about vanity overtaking common sense. Mine did the exact opposite, it removed my common sense.

I hear Gail say, “She’s in the back, but we’re going to wait for the others.”

It’s almost time. I smile because my pride is about to be restored even as I use my vanity to take it down. Tonight, one of my vanities is about to help someone who desperately needs the reassurance I could have used years ago.

Vanity has no place in pride. Not for me. Not any longer.

“Are you positive, Corinna?” Cassidy says quietly, her hands resting on my shoulders. “There’s no going back once we begin. They only need to shave a little bit around the surgical incision. You don’t have to lose all of your gorgeous hair. You know we’ll do anything you need us to while you’re recovering.”

I meet Cassidy’s eyes in the mirror as I reach up to place my hand on top of hers. “There was no going back for me from the minute I knew this tumor needed to come out, Cass. There’s no need for vanity with what I’m about to face. I need strength. Recovery’s going to be an uphill battle as it is. Let’s not add worrying if my hair’s getting into my incision.”

Her hands clench down hard. “Then who goes first?”

“Gail,” I say immediately. “She needs to show you all where to cut.” Leaning forward, I break Cassidy’s hold on me as I place my glass on Gail’s station. “Gail, where do you want this motley crew?” I joke.

All my siblings, as well as Jason, Caleb, Keene, and Charlie, have gathered around with varying degrees of shock and awe on their faces. Colby, who’s standing closest to me, leans down to whisper, “Never forget, I love you.”

A luminous smile crosses my face. “Gail? Show them where to cut.”

Gail, who has a ridiculously small yet sharp pair of scissors in her hand steps forward. “Okay, everyone. You’ll notice there’s a note with your name tied around the braid you’re supposed to cut. There are fourteen braids. I’ll take one, show you where to cut, and take the braid after. Then you’ll go in the order Corinna’s card tells you.”

Gail picks up the first braid, which is banded at the top about two-and-a-half inches from my scalp. “Try to cut as close to the band without actually snipping it. The braids are all measured for us to send into Locks of Love.” Gail holds the base of the scissors to the only unlabeled braid. “Ready, kiddo?”

The music has switched to “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel. I simply nod.

Gail begins cutting just above the top of the braid. In a few moments, it comes off in a hunk in her hands. She moves to the next station where a box lined with tissue paper waits. She lays down the braid before coming back to me with the scissors. “Hold these while I find your braid,” she says. “Here it is.” Handing me the card, Gail stays close to help me with the actual cutting.

I swallow the lump in my throat as my eyes meet those of my extended family. On a deep breath, I say the words I memorized earlier. “I’m not ready to leave you all.” Holding the base of the scissors, Gail helps me put them in the right place, and together we cut off the second braid.

“Colby,” I say softly. My boyfriend swallows as he steps up to accept the braid Gail pulls out. His voice chokes on the words “Never forget.” He cuts the braid and hands it to Gail. “Ali, it says you’re next on my card.”

“Shit.” Finding her braid, she lets loose a sob behind me. “Damn you, Corinna.” I watch in the mirror as Keene steps up to hold her. “For sisterhood.” Tears flow down her face as she cuts the braid. “Keene, baby.” She just hands him the scissors.

“Hell.” The man who someday will become my brother-in-law glares at me in the mirror. “For the strength of convictions.” He shakes his head at me as he bends down to kiss my cheek. “You’re so damn strong, Corinna. Don’t you ever forget it. Phil?” He hands the scissors to my brother.

Phil’s eyes are overflowing so much, Gail has to step in and help him cut the braid before he can control himself enough to choke out, “For pride. Jace,” he calls to his husband.

Jason steps forward. Quickly locating his braid, he reads quietly, “For wisdom.” With a doctor’s surgical precision, he cuts the braid. “Holly.”

My sister wraps her arms around me, and I lean into her embrace. Because I know her as well as I do, I know she’ll spend the rest of the night looking at the pictures of my hair and mourning in her own way. “You slay me,” she whispers. Standing, she accepts the scissors from Jason. “For the strength to fight.” She looks down at me, her eyes a different shade of gold than my own. “You’d better have the strength, sister. Em?”

Emily steps forward, pushing her glasses back up her nose. There are only a few braids left. She grabs hers and holds on to it as if making a wish. I hope it’s the right one. Reading the card, she says, “Happiness is eternal. It’s everywhere.” She shakes her head in disbelief, even as she cuts my hair. “Corinna…”

“Em, just say who’s next,” I say gently.

“Charlie, it’s your turn.”

“Me?” His voice holds a note of disbelief. He looks around at the others, who are wiping their tear-filled eyes, but still nodding. “Corinna, are you sure?”

“Charlie, please,” I ask softly.

He steps up to Em and relieves her of the scissors. Fumbling for his braid, he reads, “For unexpected guardian angels.” Charlie’s cut is precise. There are so few braids left, I can feel each and every tug against my scalp. I relish the burden being taken from my mind and body. “Cassidy.”

My sister comes forward, her hands shaking. “You’re so brave, Cori. I’m so proud of you.”

A smile touches my lips. I just wait while Cassidy reads her card. Her hand lands on my shoulder. “No. No, this is you, not me.” Her sobs are uncontrollable.

Caleb steps forward. “Cass? What does it say?”

“For the bravest person in the world. I’m just lucky she chose me as a sister.” Cassidy’s voice is laden with tears, her cut likely jagged with the way her hands are trembling. As soon as she passes the braid over, she buries her head into my neck. “I love you. We all love you so much.”

“I know, Cass. You have to give the scissors to Caleb,” I whisper.

Squeezing me one more time, she turns to her husband and places the scissors in his hand. He noticeably swallows. There are only three braids left. He finds his in seconds. Scanning the words, he murmurs, “For determination and perseverance.” Brushing a kiss on the top of my head where the final two braids remain, he walks over to Colby. “Your turn again, brother.”

Colby gives me a surprised look. “Two?”

“Two,” I say firmly.

“I must have done something special,” he murmurs.

You sure did, I think to myself. I watch him in the mirror as he reads his card. His countenance softens. He begins cutting without reading the card, handing both the scissors and the braid to Gail before pulling me to my feet. Capturing my face in his hands, he whispers, “For love,” before he tenderly kisses me in front of my whole family.

The kiss goes on for some time before his lips pull away. The love sparkling between us is so bright, there’s no way I’ll ever be afraid of the dark ever again. Not as long as I have this man by my side.

Without moving from his arms, I reach my hand back toward Gail. She places the handle of the scissors in them. I feel for the final braid, all while holding Colby’s dusky gaze. “Is it in the right spot?” I ask.

He nods. “Do you need the card?”

I smile, even as I shake my head slightly. I don’t want to shift the scissors too much. Even as I hack away at the last braid, I announce to the room at large.

“This one’s for the fight of my life.”

The salon fills with the smell of Chinese food and wine. Where there were tears earlier, I hear laughter. Keene and Caleb quickly left to get their children. Before Gail sat me down in the chair to fix what’s left of my hair, I spent time cuddling them. I’m not sure they understand who I am without the masses of hair they normally shove in their mouths, but hopefully they’ll have the chance to get used to me. Now they’re being passed between their fathers and uncles. My brother and my sisters are absorbed in my transformation.

I stick to cucumber water as Gail uses magic to trim what’s left of my thick tresses. I now understand why she kept the hair surrounding my face out of the braids. Slightly longer in the front, the longer bangs frame my heart-shaped face, adding an almost pixie element to the cut.

Holly’s taken pictures during this part of the process, more for herself than anyone else. As for me, there’s no way I’ll ever forget feeling as beautiful as I do right now because of the rightness of everything ricocheting inside of me.

Colby hasn’t been far from my side. Every time I catch sight of him from the corner of my eye as Gail turns me one way or the other, the tidal wave of his love washes over me.

“Absolutely beautiful, Corinna. Take a look,” Gail finally announces.

“You’ve always been beautiful,” Colby says without moving a single inch. The smile he gives me steals my breath even as it promises me air.

“When I see myself through your eyes, I understand that,” I tell him softly.

“Hallelujah!” Holly cries, throwing her fist in the air.

We all laugh, but I still accept the large mirror from Gail so I can see the front and the back of my new hairdo.

A hush comes over the room as I touch the back of my neck where there used to be a mane of hair. “Here, let me get the cape off so you can get the full effect.” Gail quickly removes my black cape. The low V-back shirt I’m wearing displays the antique key I had tattooed to remember so many things.

Now it reminds me of nothing but that I was never forgotten across time or space.

“Why didn’t I do this sooner?” I wonder aloud as I touch my short hair. My eyes look enormous in my face, even without makeup. I have to admit, “I look sexy as hell.”

Colby growls. “Again, like that’s anything new.”

Raucous laughter spreads around the room. Keene snickers. “Are you just getting the memo on that, Cori?”

Wow. I turn to Gail. “Are you sure you won’t let me pay for anything more than dinner? This deserves something. Anything. Please?”

Gail waves me off. “It was our honor to be a part of this. Between the hair and your donation, you’re going to make some kids really happy.”

“Hold up,” Caleb intercedes. “What donation? You have to pay to donate your hair, Cori?”

“No. I’m sponsoring a child through the program so they can get a wig made,” I tell my brother-in-law. I’m not immune to the swift glances around the room.

“Not without us, you aren’t,” Cassidy says. “And I speak for all of us.” Phil, Em, Holly, and Ali all agree.

“I’m in,” Jason adds. “Too many of my patients are without the funds for this kind of assistance.”

Caleb and Keene just smile at Colby. “You don’t even have to ask. I was going to dump a check in the box before Gail sealed it up,” Colby admits.

“How much per child?” Keene asks.

“About fifteen hundred.”

“Why don’t we make an even fifteen kids happy. Caleb, you good with that?”

Caleb strokes his jaw back and forth. “You know who might be interested in this? Our newest client. He might want to contribute as well. Colby, what’s your take?”

Colby freezes for a second before he relaxes. “Nice, Caleb. Very nice. Make it an even fifteen and add the extra donation to his bill. I’ll let him know when Corinna and I talk with him later.”

I’m baffled. “We’re talking with one of your clients later?”

“Only because he’s a pain in the ass and can’t wait until you’re out of surgery to meet you.” Colby shakes his head. “I might be able to put him off for one more night, but longer than that and he’ll be on our doorstep.”

“Who, Colby?”

“We’ll talk more about it privately but…” Colby takes both my hands in his before completely blowing my mind. “It’s my grandfather. Senator Zachary Hunt.”