Chapter 2

This vow was realized quickly. When Nora was sixteen, she finally couldn't take it anymore.

One time, while on duty at school, she accidentally fell off a table and twisted her ankle, so the teacher sent the class president to escort her home.

What should have been a normal scene took on a whole different flavor in my mom's eyes.

As soon as the person left, my mom grabbed Nora by the collar and started slapping her.

"You little tramp, grown up and learning to seduce men, huh?"

"Was that guy just now a customer? How much do you charge per night? Tell me, if you earn a lot, just drop out. It's not like you're learning anything useful anyway."

"Speak up! Weren't you full of words before? I knew you'd be no good when you bought that bra years ago. Now, look at your fox tail sticking out!"

Blood trickled from the corner of Nora's mouth as she grinned, revealing red-stained teeth.

"Mom, are you lacking men so much that you're jealous of me?"

My mom froze for a moment, then flew into a rage, grabbing Nora's hair with one hand and smashing a glass on her with the other.

"Damn it! Mom feeds you and clothes you, gives you life, and you have no gratitude, you heartless ingrate. I'll beat you to death, just die already!"

Screams echoed, and I couldn't find a chance to help. Nora struggled desperately while my mom struggled to control her.

My brother silently kicked from behind, and Nora fell heavily to the ground. My mom laughed.

"Still, it’s the son who’s useful. No wonder he’s Mommy’s treasure!"

Nora shrank into the corner, her body trembling with pain, letting my mom pin inexplicable crimes on her.

My mom called her a slut, said she was a whore, born to be sold. When she ran out of insults, she focused on Nora's hair.

"I was wondering why you’ve been slacking off at work lately, spending all your energy on your hair. Braiding it, who are you trying to seduce? Shameless thing!"

My mom grabbed a pair of scissors. I rushed over, hugging her leg, begging her to spare Nora. She kicked me away, forcing Nora to lift her head, cutting large chunks of her hair. Nora howled as my mom and my brother laughed. Her once proud long hair was now like it had been chewed by a dog.

"Hahahahaha! Look at her now, like a rough old man. I’d like to see her try to seduce anyone now!"

Nora collapsed to the ground, covering her face in silent tears.

Dressed in rags, malnourished, thin as paper, in an age where beauty mattered, her thick, dark hair was her only pride.

My mom's malicious gaze turned to me, and I shivered.

"This little tramp will definitely be a vixen too!"

My mom called someone to sell our hair. There was no tenderness or care. I felt like a broken doll, my scalp in severe pain, being torn apart. Through the glass, I saw my ridiculous new hairstyle.

"A flat fee, three hundred fifty. Take it!"

My mom took the money, her face beaming. My brother laughed too.

"Son, tonight Mom will take you to KFC, make these two burdens drool!"

My hair, my treasured hair, turned out to be just a meal for my mom and brother.

The hair buyer muttered, "What are these adults thinking, making two girls go out looking like this!"

Everyone was happy except Nora and me.

In the dark, illuminated by the moonlight, I shaved Nora’s hair to the scalp.

I wanted to turn on the light, but Nora refused. She said she didn’t want to see how ugly she’d become.

There was no choice, the hair was ruined, so we had to shave it all off. After I finished shaving hers, she shaved mine. Near the window, we looked at each other, saw our appearances clearly, and spoke simultaneously:

"You’re so ugly."

"Shut up, you are too."

We laughed silently. Nora touched her bald head, her gaze becoming determined:

"Nora, I'm going to leave."