She remained silent.
I pulled the hood back.
My knees nearly gave way.
Her hair was gone.
The long hair I had brushed that morning had been chopped into rough, uneven sections just above her shoulders.
One side was noticeably shorter.
Thick clumps stuck out awkwardly at the back.
I dropped to the floor.
“Oh, my God.”
Maya immediately began to cry.
I reached toward her head, then stopped before touching her.
“Who did this?”
“Who did this to you?”
My voice grew louder.
Felix heard me from upstairs and rushed down so quickly that he almost slipped on the final step.
“What happened?”
Then he saw her.
His expression changed instantly.
He looked from Maya’s hair to me.
“Who cut it?”
Maya said nothing.
Felix grabbed his car keys.
“The school is closed,” I said.
“Then I’m calling Susan.”
He pulled out his phone.
“No,” I said. “Wait. We need names first.”
I turned to Maya and gently held her shoulders.
Her lower lip trembled.
“Was it the same children who pulled your braid?”
She shook her head.
“Did they corner you?”
She did not respond.
“Did someone hold you down?”
“I’m calling the police.”
That made Maya look up.
“No.”
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