A Face They Nearly Lost
Shafag, however, was unique from the start. She didn’t inquire as to Rita’s actions or the reasons behind her appearance. She didn’t inquire about how she had fallen this far or what she had lost. Shafag instead posed a question that Rita had not been asked in years: “What makes you feel most like yourself?” She was surprised by the question. She herself? She couldn’t even remember who that was.
Everything felt deliberate and soft as Shafag worked. Rita’s weary skin was soothed by warm lotions, and the subtle aroma of lavender enveloped her like a recollection of security. The leisurely motion of the scissors not only removed broken hair but also lifted the burden of years of feeling undeserving. It was almost ceremonial to shampoo her hair. Rita was receiving care for the first time in a long time; she wasn’t anticipating suffering or embarrassment. Quiet, genuine, patient care. Rita came to the realization that this wasn’t a rescue operation in the midst of the cutting, washing, and quiet talking. She was broken, and this person wasn’t coming to her aid. It was a request to return to her own life, to the body she had viewed as an enemy, to a future she believed she didn’t deserve.
