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Then, all of a sudden, he sees, he smiles at ain”

His words fill me with hope, and for some reason I believe him Somehow, someday, our paths will cross another ti that this isn’t the last tis me hope

“You knohat Ethan,” I answer “I think you’re right” Then I draw hiet out of the car

Tears fill my eyes as I walk in the direction of the main entrance to the airport I tell myself to quit it, to snap out of the sadness But it’s no use I pull a cru and wipe at the wetness Once I’o and find the nearest ATM and withdraw so with the now soaked tissue and continue on to search for the bathroom

The one I find is cold and sterile, off-white tiles on both the walls and the floors There are six cubicles lining one side of the wall and the other side has several sinks and one long mirror I check the cubicles to ht so there’s nobody around Most people are catching their flights, or sleeping on unco areas

I hitch e of the sink and take out the scissors I’d put in withback down on the floor and stare at , lonely minute

“It has to go, it all has to go,” I say to the e chuck of hair inet rid of it, both because it is too easy to recognise if people co for me, and also because it is a part of the old h too much pain and trauone I need a fresh start I take the scissors and cut off the hair I’ in ainst white I’ to miss it Chop, chop, chop More and more hair falls into the sink as I continue to cut

Sone, and my black hair barely comes past my ears A hard look for hard times, I think to aze at irl who stares back at me She is so sad Too much has happened to her that can never be erased Never washed away like chalk on a footpath when the rain comes The marks of my experiences are there in plain view The shadows beneath hosts that hauntfro than the police

I run my hands under the tap and watch as the water cascades over them Why can’t water wash away your troubles? Life would be so much easier if that were the case I make some final touches to my new haircut, a haircut that is as disturbed and erratic as h, and it does sort of suit e way, so I don’t mind much I wonder what the person who finds all ofto think Little bits and pieces of it are also on the floor I put the scissors back inthe bathroom

Outside I walk around for a while, watching people as they say goodbye or say hello or don’t say anything at all When I co the nahts I stop and look up Destinations run through my head as I consider which option to take A ht myself and look back up at the board As I h my head

I clutchshape of Matthew’s box We all have our vices Not being able to let go of the past seethis isn’t the last I’ve seen of Tribane I pick a city

And the heavily made up blond smiles at me as I walk to the counter and buy a ticket

If you enjoyed Tegan’s Blood and would like to receive a free copy of Crimson, a novella told from Ethan’s point of view, you can post a review to Amazon, email the link to [email protected] and you will receive the free novella in return

Crimson: An Ultimate Power Series Novella

by LH Cosway