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“Oh my God I can’t believe that’s even ht to the left and fans her face “Thank you for ain”

“Darling, you are beautiful, all I did was highlight a few of your stunning attributes”

“Can I hug you?” she asks

“Absolutely”

She stands and I give her a gentle squeeze “I can’t tell you howyour journey with me”

She pulls away “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course”

She touches nosed? Are you in remission?”

“Sixto ter no hair It feels so stupid I know it’s only hair, and this isn’t life threatening, so I should be grateful” I feel so lohining about an autoiht off cancerous cells

“It’s not just hair when it was taken against your will You’re allowed to grieve for it, but then you must move on Don’t let it define you”

“Thank you, Martina”

She squeezes aze over at the wo theroup pictures, and lightning strikes

“Can Ifriends?” I ask All eyes turn to nosed with Alopecia I’ve been hiding it ever since Seeing all of you extraordinarily brave, strong women has moved me to come out of the closet I would be honored if I could take my first public photo with no hair with all of you, so I always remember this day”

The outpouring of acceptance and encouragement as they wave h gear I re it as I reclaioes up in the rooical I aic Suddenly I understand the gathering of wo recipes and herbal reone I step up beside them and I’m reborn when I turn to face the camera and sht, I’ the process of loving myself in this new skin

I’ician Because I can’t see off and on since the day after ent to the edAt the time I was impressed, and in need of the happy distraction after an eht with my mother He hadn’t even followed the three-day rule I wasn’t sure if it was refreshing or scary Did it s? In the end, I decide to shelvefriendship