C16 Moving on?
The salon was busy that afternoon, filled with the sound of hair dryers, conversations, and music playing quietly in the background. The smell of hair products lingered in the air, mixed with the occasional scent of someone’s perfume as people moved around the room.
Sierra sat in front of the mirror while the stylist worked on her hair. Sam sat beside her, scrolling through her phone while waiting for her own turn.
“I still don't understand how you can sit this long without complaining,” Sam said.
Sierra looked at her through the mirror. “Because I know what happens when I complain.”
“What?”
“They tell me I should have stayed home.”
Sam laughed. “Fair.”
Sierra smiled slightly and looked back at her reflection.
They continued talking about school, work, and the little things that had happened during the week. Sam talked about one of her lecturers who seemed determined to give everyone more work than they could possibly finish.
“He gave us another assignment,” Sam said.
“Another one?”
“Yes. Apparently, we have too much free time.”
Sierra laughed. “That's usually how lecturers think.”
“I swear, if I disappear for three days, you'll know why.”
“Because of school?”
“Because of school.”
They laughed again.
For a while, the conversation moved from one subject to another without either of them really paying attention to how much time had passed. It was easy with Sam. They had known each other for so long that silence never felt awkward, and neither of them needed to force a conversation just to fill the space.
Sierra's phone vibrated on the small table beside her.
She glanced at it.
A message.
Hey
She looked at the screen for a moment.
A few seconds later, the typing dots appeared.
Sierra waited.
Another message came through.
Are you free this evening?
She read it twice before another message appeared.
I was thinking we could go out. Maybe dinner?
Sierra didn't smile.
She simply stared at the screen, thinking.
Sam noticed her expression through the mirror.
“What is it?”
Sierra turned the phone slightly in her hand.
“It’s a guy from work.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “A guy?”
“Yeah.”
“Who?”
“His name is Miles. He’s a new transfer at the hospital. We met during lunch a few days ago.”
Sam nodded slowly. “Oh.”
“He offered me a ride home after work.”
“And now he's asking you out?”
“Apparently.”
Sam looked at her through the mirror. “He seems nice.”
Sierra looked back at the message.
“He does.”
“You could go.”
“Maybe.”
Sam didn't push her. She simply went back to her phone, giving Sierra time to decide for herself.
Sierra looked down at the screen again. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
She eventually typed:
Let me think about it.
She sent it and placed the phone back on the table.
For a few moments, she said nothing.
Neither did Sam.
The conversation slowly returned to school and work, as though the message hadn't changed anything.
---
Joan was halfway through the hospital corridor when she saw Peter.
She had rushed in so quickly that she barely noticed the people around her. Her bag was still hanging from one shoulder, and her breathing was uneven from hurrying through the entrance.
“Peter.”
He turned.
The look on Joan's face immediately made him straighten.
“Where is he?”
Peter stepped toward her.
“Joan—”
“Where is Alex? What happened?”
“He's okay.”
“Then why are you here?”
Peter paused before answering.
“He just needs to rest.”
Joan stared at him.
“Peter.”
“He's being looked after. You don't need to panic.”
But Joan was already moving past him.
Peter followed for a few steps before stopping outside the ward.
Joan entered.
The room was quieter than the hallway.
Alex was lying still on the bed, connected to the hospital equipment around him. His eyes were closed, and for a moment Joan simply stood there, trying to process what she was seeing.
She had seen him have difficult days before.
That didn't make this any easier.
Her eyes filled with tears.
She walked closer and sat beside him.
“You scared me,” she whispered.
There was no response.
Joan reached for his hand and held it carefully.
She tried to stay composed, but the tears eventually slipped down her cheeks.
“He must have had another episode,” she thought.
She lowered her head for a moment, still holding his hand.
Outside the room, Peter sat quietly, giving her the space she needed.
---
Later that evening, Sierra stood in front of her bedroom mirror.
Several pieces of clothing were spread across the bed.
She had already changed once.
Then changed again.
She looked at herself for a few seconds before turning away from the mirror.
It wasn't that she needed to impress Miles.
She just wanted to feel comfortable.
After everything that had happened recently, the idea of doing something different felt strange. Her life had become so familiar that even a simple dinner with someone new felt like stepping into something she hadn't planned for.
She looked at the clothes on the bed again before finally choosing an outfit.
She took her time getting ready, fixing her hair and checking herself in the mirror one last time.
For once, she wasn't thinking too far ahead.
It was only dinner.
A chance to talk.
A chance to meet someone new without expecting anything from it.
Maybe that was enough.
A car pulled up outside.
Sam glanced through the window.
“That must be him.”
Sierra picked up her bag.
She walked downstairs and looked toward the door.
Miles was waiting outside.
Sam stood nearby, watching quietly.
“You ready?” Sam asked.
Sierra nodded.
“Yeah.”
She turned toward the door, then looked back at Sam.
“Bye.”
“Bye. Have fun.”
Sierra smiled.
“Thanks.”
She stepped outside.
Miles greeted her, and after a brief exchange, they walked toward the car together.
Sierra got in.
As the car pulled away, she looked out through the window at the familiar streets passing by.
She didn't know what the evening would bring.
For now, she was willing to find out.
