She grimaced as she sat down. The black cape was securely snapped in place. She held up her phone showing her the picture.

“It’s time.”

“Shampoo cut and style?”

She nodded and followed her to the sink. A nice scalp massage and squeeze dry, then it was back to the chair.

She didn’t want to watch as the inches of curls fell away. Nine months of trying to grow it out, but it just wouldn’t cooperate. It should have been ponytail ready for the coming heatwaves, but the sides just refused.

“It came back in nicely though. The medicine is working.”

She smiled back, but realized long locks were never to be again. Her shoulders couldn’t handle the time it took to straighten it, and her hair was really too thin.

The stylist trimmed around her ears. A flash of white caught her eye.

“Wow, that is bright!”

“It’s a pretty grey,” she assured her, “It will be much cooler too!”

She knew, and she was tired of the disheveled look her curls usually brought.

A blow-dry, a few stray trims, and it was done.

“Thanks!”

She smiled at the mirror into her sleeker, more in-charge look. Her head felt lighter and her neck felt the cool air once again. She was sad at undoing all her hard work, but glad to have a fresh look at the same time.

The floor around her was littered with her failure, but at least it wasn’t her on her head, serving up a constant reminder. She settled up and walked out with a new outlook.

She typed a text to him, but paused.

She let the cursor flash.

The miles between them seemed to grow.

She didn’t know why this ebb and flow happened.

It was always around her birthday it seemed.

And would last for weeks or months at times.

She frowned. She didn’t understand.

But she didn’t want to be a burden.

She backed up the cursor, clearing out the text.

Closed the session and put her phone down.

“Quick! Catch him!”

The horde chased the diminutive man, dressed in a green velour jacket and black top hat. He giggled and kicked his heels, then ran off again. His flaming red curls bounced under his hat.

Every March 17th, it’s the same thing. He’d come to love the chase, but it’s even funnier when he gets caught.

He swung around a lamp pole and splashed through a puddle as he passed the pub. He heard a cheer as he ran past.

“Go Paddy! Go!

Better be quick,

Or they’ll get your gold!”

The throng stumbled through the streets. Their drunken haze convinced them they’d seen a leprechaun.

He ducked into a doorway, just out of sight. Then, he watched as they entered the dead end alley.

Confusion came over the faces of the crowd. The rapscallion evaded them once more. Faces grew long as they each wandered back to the pub.

Paddy snickered as the group disappeared. The gold remained his for one more year.

He cried out across the wire…

No! Don’t look that up!

Freaking out that it might scar my innocent brain.

Or perhaps he didn’t want me to think bad of him.

But my fingers were faster than he knew,

And the answer had already been revealed.

I chuckled as I replied… “Too late!”

But I found it cute, his act of chivalry.

A clear sky greets me, full of stars.

I grasp this moment, fleeting as it is.

But, no moon floats up in the sky,

No place for me to feel we’re connected.

I tuck my heart back in my chest,

And wander through the leaves.

I know the moon will soon return,

and I can dream again.

Till then, I bid you good night.

She played with the stray curl as she lifted the phone to her ear. The edge of the phone was cold against her temple and hairline. She sighed.

Growing it out was just the latest attempt to cover up what was really happening. She finished her call, lowered her phone and looked at her faint reflection in the screen.

She remembered 20 years ago. For that brief time, her hair finally was the crown on her head. Wavy, longer, and grays were just a nuisance back then.

She walked into the bathroom and set the phone down on the Corian countertop. She lifted back the curls and her scalp seemed to glow from the thinner base. The longer hair wasn’t working, but she hated to give up.

She heaved a heavy sigh. It had been a year since she started the journey. It was better than it was, but would likely never return to what she once had. She grabbed her phone, returned to the living room and flopped onto the sofa.

She looked over photos, and how she had changed. The best shots were with her hair shorter, so she relented. Scrolling through styles, she wanted something a little different, but most just looked to be a mess, or something she’d already done.

She rubbed her eyes. Nothing more to do tonight. She’ll take another look with fresh eyes tomorrow. Maybe she should just shave it all off, she thought as she headed to bed. That’ll teach her hair to misbehave, she snickered as she tucked herself in.

I can’t dance, although I pretend.

In the background, Michael Bublè plays.

Looking for a partner to join me on the floor.

My little boy tries to slink by, but I scoop him up.

Pull him close, I start to Sway.

Why does this music make me want to dance?

Visions of a flowing dress swirling about,

Smoothly gliding across the floor.

Another song begins to play,

The tempo increases as I get Higher.

My little boy squirms, so I set him free.

It’s okay sweetie, I can dance alone,

but know this, I will never not love you.

She fiddled with the emerald pendant hanging from her neck. It was a gift, misunderstood by the giver. Yes, she wanted it, but she worked for it and wanted to buy it of her own accord. But still, this gift dangled gracefully from its chain. It was beyond thoughtful, and more than ever should have been given to her.

She caressed the green gem. It glistened, surrounded by diamonds and set in gold. She would only wear it on special occasions, holidays and celebrations. She would enjoy it while it was hers, knowing one day she would pass it along.

It wasn’t her birthstone. But being part Irish, she had always been drawn to its hue. Her prom gown was the same color, all those years ago. She went stag with her girlfriends, but she’d picked that dress out hoping he’d change his mind back. He didn’t. Not at that time at least.

Her mind floated. They would make love on a hand sewn quilt in his bedroom a few years later. He touched her stomach as they joked over names. He told her what he wanted to name her. She didn’t understand back then what it meant to him. She wouldn’t get it for well on more than a decade, but life decided that joy wouldn’t be shared with her.

They both moved on, found other partners, perhaps better for each of them. In her mind, though, she would always wonder. They kept in contact, exchanging jokes, pictures, and life events, although miles apart and never in person.

Her heart still held room for him all those years later. One way or another, she decided she would find a way to pass this beauty on to his daughter. See, it’s her birthstone hanging from that cord.

She knew it was silly to think this way. But she realized life was flying by. Perhaps, some day in the not too distant future, the perfect opportunity would finally arise. Maybe, then, her Irish eyes will once again be shining.