One of them said,
“The gum should’ve been stuck closer to the roots.”
My entire body went cold.
Then the concert started.
After the first song, Emily walked toward the microphone.
I vaguely remembered the choir tradition.
After each performance, one student could publicly thank someone important to them.
Emily looked nervous.
Then she began speaking.
“A few days ago, something happened to my friend Maya.”
The room fell silent.
“Some girls put gum in her hair.”
Maya lowered her head.
“A lot of gum,” Emily continued. “She was crying in the bathroom because she was afraid everyone would laugh at her.”
I looked at Maya properly for the first time.
Her hair was short.
Uneven around the ears.
Almost identical to Emily’s.
My breath caught.
Emily continued.
“I called Grandma.”
Linda was sitting several rows in front of me.
“She came to get us and took Maya to a salon. The stylist tried everything, but they couldn’t save her hair.”
