CHAPTER FIVE

Sunlight slipped through Nora's curtains, painting her bed with warm, golden spots. She hadn't set her alarm for 6 a.m. today...she wanted to sleep as long as her body needed. When her eyes finally opened, the hurt of missing Caleb sat heavy in her chest, but she got up anyway and walked to her dressing mirror. She made herself smile, even if it shook a little.

"Caleb hurt you," she said quietly to the mirror. "He left you. You've got to figure out how to handle it."

The words hit hard, but they were real. She kept looking at herself until her bedroom door swung open. Ellie, her sister, bounced in, full of life and chatter. The shy girl she used to be was long gone...now she was all hugs and stories. A full time chatter box. She wrapped Nora in a big squeeze.

"You missed so much last night!" Ellie said, dropping onto the bed. "Maya almost got into it with this guy at the park...he was saying nasty stuff to Lila. She was ready to fight." She stopped and tilted her head. "Hey, why do we have different hair colors? We're sisters, but you've got that shiny brown, and mine's this wild mess. Tell me!"

Nora laughed, surprised. "Um, ask Mom and Dad? I don't have the hair rulebook, Ellie."

Ellie grinned, but Nora's mind started spinning. Her long brown hair...shiny and thick...was something Caleb always loved. Time for a change, she thought. After breakfast, she'd dye it blonde and chop it short, right to her neck. A fresh start, just for her. She made a quick mental note.

"What's your day look like?" Nora asked, sitting next to Ellie. "Back to med school stuff?"

Ellie stretched out with a groan. "Yeah, back to my books. Public health master's doesn't wait, and after all the fun lately, I've got to focus or they'll kick me out. The amount of fun I've had these past few days will last me till the year runs out" Her voice got quieter. "I picked this after Grandma passed... that doctor messed up real bad. Then Dad… it made me want to fix things."

Nora nodded, feeling proud but sad. "You're doing awesome, Ellie. Dad would love it."

Ellie smiled, then jumped up. "Shower time! I'm taking Mom to the library before campus. See you later?"

"Yep," Nora said, watching her sister walk out.Nora took a shower too, the hot water waking her up. She blow-dried her hair, letting it fall soft and wavy. She didn't fuss with skincare...her smooth skin was fine without it, unlike Ellie or her friends. Skin care was more their thing. She picked a floral dress with a high slit and slid on some cute sandals. The couple's pendant from Caleb hung around her neck, a quiet reminder she couldn't shake yet. She put on her favorite red lipstick and went downstairs.In the kitchen, she grabbed a bowl of cereal, the crunch filling the empty house. Her mom and Ellie rushed by, bags in hand. "Lock up, sweetie" her mom said, kissing her cheek. Ellie blew a kiss, and they were out the door.

Nora took her purse and stepped into the cool San Francisco morning. First stop: Maya and Lila's new place in the Mission District. They'd moved in together after Maya's ex...mean, controlling and abusive asshole...ended things. Her friends wouldn't let her stay in that mess.

Maya flung the door open with a squeal. "Nora! You're here!" She pulled Nora into a hug, her sundress spinning. Lila, smeared with paint from her art, smiled from the couch.

"Surprise," Nora said, laughing as they tugged her inside. Their flat mixed Lila's bold paintings with Maya's cool style...soft rugs, green plants, and a ring light for Maya's influencer work with Reformation.

They crashed on the couch, talking about random things...new spots to eat, a silly video on tiktok, Lila's next art show. Lila poked Nora with a grin. "Tell Maya to wash the dishes. She never cooks, so it's fair."

Maya gasped, hand on her heart. "I'm an Influencer, Lila. Dishes are your vibe."

Nora laughed, their teasing lifting her up. She took a breath. "Hey, I need help. Maya, you know all the good places. Can you find me a music school and a cooking class? I want to try something new."

Maya's face lit up. "Yes! My girl's stepping out!" Lila nodded, her quiet pride showing. "We're on it, Nora."

Maya grabbed her phone, typing fast. "I'm telling them my VIP friend's coming. You're good." By noon, Nora had sign-ups for both, starting tomorrow. She hugged her friends goodbye, their squeezes full of love.

"We're so proud of you," Lila said gently.

"Keep glowing," Maya said with a wink.

As they walked her down the street, Lila told more about the park mess. "That guy was awful, Nora. Maya was ready to fight when he touched my arm."

Maya huffed. "He was about to grab your butt, Lila! You're too nice...I had to do something."

Nora laughed, shaking her head. "Violence is not always the answer , Maya."

"Preach girlll," Lila said, high-fiving her.

They split at the corner, Nora waving as she hopped in a taxi. Next stop: a salon in Noe Valley, a busy place with good vibes.

Inside, scissors snapped and voices hummed. Nora's heart beat fast as she sat in Amy's chair, her long brown hair falling around her. "Blonde," she said, steady. "And short, to my neck."Amy, with pink streaks in her hair, smiled big. "Love it. Very bold move. Let's make it happen." As the dye soaked in and the scissors cut, Nora felt nervous but excited. This wasn't just a haircut...it was her taking control, starting over. When Amy turned her around, the mirror showed a sharp blonde bob, perfect around her face. Nora barely knew herself.

"You look incredible," Amy said, grinning.

A guy nearby, getting a trim, looked over. "You're so hot girlll."

Nora smiled a little. "Thanks," she said softly. She wasn't ready for that yet. She paid Amy, gave her a nice tip, and asked for some pictures. Outside, she posted them on Instagram, the sun lighting up her new hair. Her friends' chat went wild...Maya's "Hey gorgeous, where's my bestie?!" and Lila's "You're killing it." Her mom wrote, "My sweet girl," and Ellie sent heart-eyes. Even her coworkers chimed in, cheering her on.

Nora smiled, feeling good. Her friends texted more..."Fake friend, hiding this from us!"...joking and warm. She wrote back, "You'll survive losers. Love you."Next, she stopped at the cooking school and music academy, both in the city's busy heart. She signed up for classes starting tomorrow, her hand steady as she wrote her name.

But her last stop was the toughest. The taxi drove through streets she knew too well, each turn making her chest tighter. When it stopped outside the old Victorian building, her breath stopped too. The apartment belonged to her and Caleb once, full of happy times...waited there, windows dark, holding memories she'd been running from.

Nora held her purse tight, the pendant cold against her neck. Her heart raced, stuck between turning back and going in. This was the scariest place, where Caleb's shadow stayed strongest. She took a shaky breath, her hand on the door handle, and…