Chapter 13: 13- Braiding the sadness into my hair

Upon arriving home, my mom has made my favorite meal.

Hi Mom, how are you?

Hi darling, sit in the kitchen, I’ve prepared your favorite meal.

I walk towards the main living room and leave my bag, I sit in front of the glass table in the kitchen. Mom serves me a plate of lasagna.

Mmm, it smells delicious - I say, as I taste the lunch, the lasagna melts in my mouth, the broccoli sauce gives it a delicious flavor.

Oh mom, you’re the best cook - I assure her.

And you’re the sweetest daughter, the most obedient, the most creative - My mother tells me. She sits on the glass counter and holds her chin in her hand.

Are you okay, mom?

I’m just a little shocked. James has broken up with me.

James?

The man I was dating, his name is James, well, I was dating him…

I’m sorry to hear that you guys broke up. You’ll probably find another boyfriend soon. My mother looks at me tenderly.

Darling, the sooner you understand that your happiness doesn’t depend on the company of a man, the sooner you’ll be happy.

It’s necessary to have a man, especially when you’re a woman - I tell my mom.

That’s what I used to think, just when I met your father. I was deeply in love and I believed that a woman needed a man to feel loved and cared for. I was lucky with your father because he was the right man and we loved each other deeply.

Your story with dad is so romantic.

I know, dear. Although love comes when you least expect it, we can always choose who to love.

How do we do that?

Well, it’s not just about the feeling, love is also a choice. Choosing to love.

Choice - She repeats and kisses my forehead. She serves me a glass of strawberry smoothie in a glass and gently caresses my shoulders. The afternoon goes by calmly and peacefully. I grab my backpack and look at myself in the mirror. Jade has invited me to swim in her pool. My long blonde hair falls behind my back, I comb it gently. My mother knocks on the door of my room, it is slightly ajar. She sits on my bed and watches me lovingly.

Do you want me to comb your hair? - She says as she watches me gather my hair to make a ponytail.

Sure - I murmur, I hand her the comb and look at myself in the mirror, sitting, and my mother standing holding my blonde hair.

I always wanted you to be blonde - She assures.

When you were in the womb, I had fantasies about you and I always imagined you being blonde.

I like being blonde.

And you have the same eye color as me. The same eye color as my mother. - She says, bringing her face to one side of mine, brushing my cheek, and both of us remain with our faces close to each other, looking at each other in the mirror. Both of us have exactly the same oval shape, and our eyes are big and expressive, with a small, well-defined nose like a cat's. But the most striking thing between us is our blue eyes with slight hints of gray. I blink, smiling. My mother starts braiding my hair.

Your grandmother taught me a secret when braiding my hair, to always keep sadness and envy away. I know you and Jade are good friends. But one way to keep envy away between you two is to always braid your hair.

I want to stop by the pet store and bring a gift for Charlie. - I tell my mom, as I notice that she starts styling my hair even more elaborately.

Okay, sweetheart, just wait for me to finish braiding your hair - she asks.

Now tell me, who is Charlie?

He's Jade's cat, and he's so lovely.

Mom, maybe we could have a cat. What do you think?

Maybe a cat isn’t the best idea. But today, when you go to the pet store, take a look at the cats and dogs there.

I would love a Dalmatian - my mother says.

The secret when you braid your hair is to always dream that all the bad energy goes away. You take a strand and say, I tie all envy or negative energy around me. You take another strand of your hair and keep braiding. You can also do this when you’re sad, especially if you’re feeling down. You braid your hair and the sadness goes away.

Mom, how did you know that dad was the right one? - I ask her when she finally finishes braiding my hair, a long and beautiful fishtail braid starts from my ears and extends down to my waist.

Well, sweetheart, it was very simple to know that he was your dad. He would always say to me "Make love, not war". He was peaceful, a meditator and an observer, while I was spontaneous, impulsive, but I loved him deeply and I always made sure not to hurt him. He filled me with peace.

If your heart is at peace and happy, it'll probably be easy for you to know - I explained, my mother kissed my cheeks.

Is this talk about love purely hypothetical or is there someone wandering in your heart? - My mother raises an eyebrow, her doll-like face shines with curiosity.

It's just a hypothesis - I assure her with a smile.

Upon arriving at Jade's house, the pool is filled with students, mostly of them are wearing bikinis. There is an unusual affair for letting her ass totally uncovered with the bikinis for the girls, and for the men, as they show more of their size, the better for them.

I just breathe, my body, abs, and legs look amazing, especially after weeks of training, since I started seeing James. I want to look beautiful and be the most beautiful one here. Jade greets me with a smile and tells me to go to the bathroom in her bedroom to change. I ran into Chantalle and Eduardo in the kitchen, who are eating strawberry ice cream and have the refrigerator open.

I greet them with a smile and walk with Jade to her room.