Chapter 2 THE FUTURE

• It’s been some months since I made it back from the dead. My physical therapy is almost over and I decided today to cut my hair up to my chest. All this time I looked like Rapunzel, as my hair would grow non stop. They need care I haven’t provided to them.
• It’s going to be okay, I guess. I walk down the street of my small village, being called the miracle girl. News travels fast here and I have been trying to avoid everyone and everything. But at the same time, I feel betrayed as none of my friends have come to visit me. To be honest, all of them have moved on and I’m still here. My ego is too high to even try to communicate with them, but my heart is in so much pain, especially when a special someone isn’t with me anymore.
• I enter the small salon that one of my old classmates is running, Lily. She was always the smiley girl that went along with everyone. She never had big dreams but loved making our hair and makeup. She was actually the only one that came to visit me in the hospital. She has been my only friend ever since, helping me get through this.
• “Alex, you are here!”, she exclaims when she sees me. I enter inside and I immediately take a seat.
• “I’m so happy we are doing this!”, she says with her perky voice.
• “I guess”, I say dull.
• “Hey D, you need to cheer up, okay? It’s going to be great!”, she tries to hype me up and it’s working.
• “Alright! This is the length I want”, I say and show my chest. I can see her pouting, not liking my answer.
• “No shorter?”, she begs me with her puppy eyes.
• “No Lily, sorry”, I say, not falling for her tricks.
• As she is cutting my hair, we make all kinds of small talk. She always whines about her boyfriend that hasn’t yet proposed. Then she gives names to her imaginary children. She is 23, why does she want to settle down so early?
• “Hey, did you listen to Liam's new song??”, she just asked me a painful question. I answer “Yes”, showing my contempt.
• “It’s catchy”, she says but it shows she doesn’t really agree with that.
• “Say it”.
• “I just never liked the guy! You and him made this band and you were inseparable. He always thought he was perfect, yet he was the most annoying person”, she says and I can’t help but laugh at her words and expressions.
• “Oh no, I’m sorry D. I know how much you love him”.
• “Loved, you mean”, I corrected her.
• “So you're telling me that if he were to appear now it wouldn’t change a thing?”, she says and raises her eyebrow.
• “No. The nurse told me, he never came back after he left to make his debut. For 4 and a half years he acted as I didn’t exist. So, even though it hurts since for me it’s fresh, I will never give in to men like him”.
• She holds her hands together, making cute sounds. “My God, I’m so jealous of how strong you are!”, she exclaims. But all I remember is how weak I used to be. Always depending on Liam and our friends, thinking my aunt would save me from this unfaithful world.
• Mother drug addict, died seven years ago. She never wanted me to meet my father, even though he was always providing for us. And then she died and my aunt took me in. She was more than a mother, gave me the world. But now she is dead and I feel so hollow.
• “Thanks Lily”.
• “Also, I never liked his blonde hair”, she says in a funny note.
• “I’m blonde”, I tease her.
• “This is different!”, she answers and I laugh.
• We are almost done and I have to say, I kind of like it. “Wow!”, I exclaim in happiness. “You like it?”, she asks me excitedly.
• “I love it! I feel like my age!”, oh yes the age of 23. I didn’t get to go to college and I'm not sure if I want to at this point.
• “You and I need to get to the city you know! My friend works at a famous club there and she got us two tickets!”.
• “I’m not sure”, I say in disbelief.
• “Why? Is it a money problem? The tickets are a gift, you won’t pay a thing”.
• “No I.. you know that he keeps adding money to my account”.
• “Your father?”.
• “Yes. You know, when I went to live with my aunt she refused to use any money that he provided. But now that I’m all alone and of age, I’m using whatever is in there. This has been keeping me alive all these years. Funny, the man I have never met has done that”.
• “Well, that is actually amazing, you know. Your father cares for you even though neither your mother nor your aunt allowed you to meet him”.
• “But he didn’t make a move to see me”.
• “How can you be certain of that?”. True, I don’t know if he wanted to claim me or even know who I am.
• “I think he only sends this money out of guilt..but to be honest, the amount is a lot”, I grab my chin thinking of how much it has been.
• “Do you even know what his job is? Name? Something”.
• “I did find his name quite recently”, I answer, remembering how I was going over my mum’s old stuff.
• “And?”.
• “I only found the initials of his name; W.K.”.
• “Just that?”.
• “Yes and something more. A card that has a number on it. Saying to call there for whatever we would need”.
• “Wait, really?! Did you try to call?”.
• “Hell no!”.
• “You need to do it Alex! I know you promised to not find him but it’s different now. He can provide for you and maybe this can help you, part of your healing you know”.
• She is right, I need to figure out what I will do with my future. I don’t think I can keep living off a stranger’s money. I need to fix this, find a meaning in all this. I’m alive and there’s a reason for that, right?
• “So, what do you suggest?”.
• “Um, call the number? We will find him! But first of all, we need to prepare for the weekend. I don’t care what you say, you are coming!”.