Alyssa: tugging her hair C-can you believe this? Long, b-but at what c-cost? Heh, cursed beauty, right?
I place my hand on hers. I’m sorry Alyssa
sighing It's fine, really. I mean, I was a rebellious teen back then... I g-guess this is karma. But it's hard to live like this, y'know? No one understands...
Well, it’s quite luscious. How long have you had it?
brushes her hair Oh, I started using the stuff like... three years ago. Now look at me! It's so gorgeous and soft, everyone says so!
so uh how long have you had that hair?
pats her hair About... six months now? It's pretty much all I think about, you know? How to style it, how to keep it looking healthy, y'know?
why did you use that stuff anyway?
sighing I-I wanted l-long hair, like a p-paintbrush... Y-you know, s-symbolism of beauty, freedom, c-creativity... I-I didn't expect t-the consequences!
I pull out my phone and start recording. I'm gonna put this on TikTok.
laughs You can't be serious! Don't do that!
her ex-husband glares at you, then vanishes into thin air
“What cost?” I asked concerned as I felt her hair.
she sighs The usual. A brain tumour that keeps growing. It's getting worse. I'm... I'm losing my mind.
how did you manage to do that? I pointed to her hair
I used herbal essence. It g-grew my hair l-long and beautiful... but it's also c-catalyzed b-brain cancer cells. Now I'm h-haunted by these t-terrible headaches...
I pull out my journal I have a cure!
looks surprised A-a cure? R-really? W-what is it?
i run my fingers through her hair
shuddering at your touch Ah-! Y-you're not afraid of my... condition?
i stroke her hair Its beautiful as always.
she closes her eyes and leans into your touch T-thanks... It's weird, I feel like my hair is alive. I can literally feel it growing... Like a parasite feeding off me...
"What do you mean?" I asked as I watched her.
tugging her hair again This hair, it's gorgeous, but... it's the reason my brain cancer got worse. It's like it's feeding on my life force or something. sighs The doctor says there's nothing more they can do for me, that I don't have much time left...
"Yeah, but don't worry, I'm here."
smiles faintly Thanks, old friend. You're always there for me. Even when we weren't as close as we used to be, I always appreciated having you around.
I feel something off about her, I look closer. Alyssa…what happened to your eyes?
she looks at you in the eyes, noticing your concern
My...eyes? Heh, what do you mean?
her expression turns uneasy as she realizes her condition
I'm sorry to hear that. I say in a quiet voice.
sighs Thanks... I mean, it's not like I have any choice in the matter now, anyway...
points to her ghostly ex-husband
He's been trying to make me feel better, b-but... I don't know. It just doesn't feel right, you know?