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GEORGIA, JANUARY 13th, 1993.
—— "YOU CANNOT RUN, FOR YOU CANT HIDE FROM YOU."
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Kerina flipped through the pages of a hair magazine, looking for her next hairstyle. A heavy sigh blew past her lips as her shoulders began to slouch in her chair. She was in desperate need of a new hairstyle, something that drew attention, something enticing.
The shade of blonde she had, brought her admiration and attention, making her shine like a star in the dead of night, her every step alluring. But as time wore on, the small fame that was given wore off, then she was plain ol' Kerina. She didn't make heads turn with every step she took; her blonde curls now only seemed to attract insects.
As Kerina continued to flip through the magazine, a high-pitched voice suddenly drew her attention away, she swiftly rose to her feet, apologizing to the woman who had interrupted her thoughts.
Her eyes subconsciously began to scan the shorter woman's body, noticing she was adorned in baggy clothes, men's clothing.
Kerina had never seen a woman dressed in such attire; her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and the corners of her lips twitched upwards as she stared. Before she could stop herself, her inner thoughts began to spill "What are you wearing?" she asked, catching both herself and the other woman off guard.
"Clothes," the shorter retorted, her eyes narrowing. "I've never seen a woman in men's clothing," Kerina mumbled.
The other girl's eyes flashed with ire as she scoffed, her jaw clenched. "You're just like everyone in this damn town, with your nappy ass hair." She spat, causing Kerina to recoil at her harsh tone.
"Excuse me? Who do you think you are?" the taller questioned. "Look girl, I don't even know your name." Kerina retorted, her posture straightening in defense.
"But you still think you got a right to judge me; you don't even know me and you're setting up an image to imprison me in, only to be disappointed when I don't fit in it."
Kerina's arms crossed tightly over her chest, mimicking the girl's actions. Her jaw clenched tightly as her eyes ablaze with a mixture of anger and frustration, piercing through the shorter woman with intensity.
She sighed, looking over her shoulder to see the half-empty salon, which had been a ghost town for the past three weeks. They needed her all she could offer, even if it wasn't much.
She sighed once more, setting aside her pride.
"We started on the wrong foot, I came at you wrong, and I apologize." The taller girl's hand extended out to the woman.
"I'm Kerina," she introduced. The other girl sighed, taking Kerina's hand in hers. "Lia."
"What can I do for you, Miss Lia?" Kerina asked, dropping her hand from the girl's. Lia paused, her eyes squinting as she thought, "How much is it to dye my hair red?"
"It's thirty-five dollars, it does include a hair washing service though."
"Alright, do I pay now or later?"
"Now."
Lia nodded her head, pulling her wallet out from her pocket. Kerina was distracted by the sound of her name being called. "Kerina!" A familiar voice yelled. She glanced over her shoulder to see her mother waving her over from the break room.
"Give me one second ma'am," she muttered, stepping away from the counter, and slowly approaching her mother, the heels of her shoes clacking against the tile filling the silent salon.
"Do you know who that is?" her mother questioned, Kerina's hand made its way to her hair, playing with her curls, "Lia Jones," her mother continued, her eyes filled with disdain.
The younger woman shrugged, her eyebrows furrowing. "You don't see that girl, Kerina?" her mother asked, Kerina's eyebrows twitched in confusion as she turned around to look at the girl.
She stood awkwardly, tapping her wallet against the counter as she waited. Despite her attire, she appeared perfectly ordinary.
"She's got damn holes in her face and tattoos all over!" Kerina took another glance, she hadn't noticed the girl's piercings, nor the tattoos on her arms. They weren't there earlier, were they?
"We aren't providing service to her, so you better march your ass over there and tell her we aren't going to be any service for her."
Kerina knew better than to question her mother. She let out a heavy sigh as she twisted on her heel, her feet dragging as she slowly walked.
After she took her place behind the counter, she served the news. "We can't provide you with any service, sorry."
"What? Why not?" Lia asked, tilting her head. Kerina half expected her to get loud and ghetto, like some sort of monkey who had been ticked off.
"We're a Christian franchise," Lia stepped back, her brows furrowed, drawing close together. The shock on her face soon twisted into rage, consuming her.
"Fucking hell, damn Christian bitches." She muttered slipping her wallet into her back pocket, marching out of the salon.
Kerina watched as she marched out, feeling a bubbling pit of guilt form in her stomach. She huffed out a sigh, before yielding into the chair's cold embrace, letting the guilt take control.
