Daniel

"Daniel, would you mind grabbing my tea cup for me?" Nana says to no one. I don't tell her that Daniel isn't here. She's having one of her weird memorie losses.

"Daniel, grab the sugar too. You know how I like my tea."

She forgets the ask and returns.

"Mimi, dear, let me do your hair. In one of those cute braids I used to do on your mom."

I scoot over so she can do my hair. I wear a mindless, somber, blank expression on my

face.

"Daniel, since your already in the kitchen, grab a hair tie for me, will you." Tears swell in my eyes. I give her a few moments to compose.

"Here Nana, I brought a hair tie." She takes it somberly. She reaches her head to try and see if Daniel is coming. He is not.

"There, there. Let me wipe your tears Mimi." I let her soft old wrinkly hands brush the water from my cheeks. She gives me a sad smile, doing the best she can to comfort me.

"Thanks Nana. I appreciate you welcoming your home to me. Again."

"Why of course my Mimi. You've had a lot of loss in your life. The least I could do is let your stay with me."

I sniffle, but smile anyhow. I love my Nana. She's been there since mom, and now Daniel.

"Grab me a pair if scissors, will you?"

"Yes Nana."

That was the day I cut my hair. I had moved into Nana's place, and she wanted to give me a fresh new change. I want to do the same now. But not with my hair.

"Grab me a pair of scissors, will you Mimi?"

I hesitate. My hair is long, grown out from all those years. I haven't cut it since.

"Yes Nana. Do you want to cut my hair?"

"Yes, I think I would. It's a good coping mechanism."

The thick sound of a chop makes me flinch. Again and again the sounds comes, as Nana cuts my hair. I don't care how short. I don't care how long. I am a new person and that is all that matters.

The snipping stops and I look at myself in the mirror. I can't help but smile. It's uneven, short, like a bob and a few long hairs still dangle.

"Well? What do you think? Ooo, what'll Daniel think?"

The smile fades. I excuse myself and find my bedroom. I sob into my pillow for what feels like hours. Nana never knocks or bothers me. My phone chimes, and I hesitate.

"Hello?"

"This is Dr. Enderburg calling for Ms. Waters."

"Huh? Oh wait that's me." Waters was my last name before I married Daniel. I'm surprised people caught on so fast.

"We would like to inform you that your grandmother, Ms. Mae Pipul is at our hospital."

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