Piper The word left my mouth far more confidently than I felt. Killian gave me a small nod and returned his attention to my hair. I kept my eyes on my reflection, determined to look as normal as possible. Normal. That was the goal. Unfortunately, nothing about the situation felt normal anymore. The salon became more busy. Someone walked behind my chair carrying a stack of folded towels. A stylist called for a particular product from across the room. The hair dryer beside us switched on, filling the space with a low rush of air before going quiet again. I tried to focus on those things. “So,” I said, forcing myself to continue the conversation, “how long have you worked here?” Killian packed a section of my hair. “A little over two years.” “Two years?” I asked. Killian separated a

