one No, I can’t do this.” “You have to do this. You promised you’d try.” “I know what I said, but now that it’s time, I’m too nervous.” “A promise is a promise.” “You can’t make me do something I don’t want to, you know . . .” “Okay, we’re going to try this again . . . We can go as slow as you need. Ready, love?” “Jesus, I guess . . . I still can’t believe I agreed to this . . . This hurts so much.” “You’ll feel better once we get going, I promise.” I closed my eyes, took a breath, opened them once more, and nodded. His eyes met mine in the mirror, and he grinned that grin he knew always won me over. I dug my hands into his hair, running my fingers through the silky curls and scratching at his scalp. I blinked back tears. I lifted a chunk straight up, picked up the scissors . . . and cut. And cut. And cut. And cut some more. He kept encouraging me because he wanted it short. When he’d first asked me to cut his hair, I’d refused. I told him no way. He reminded me