Sarah slapped the cash into the cabdriver's palm. "Thanks again."
He nodded in appreciation, "No problem."
Karen was the one to answer the door. "Sarah? You're an hour early."
Sarah rolled her eyes as she strode past her stepmother. "Hello to you too, Karen."
"And you cut your hair!" Karen exhaled with slight astonishment.
Indeed, Sarah's dark locks now rested at the base of her neck, and possessed a little flip on the ends. Like a graceful ringing bell.
"You always took pride in your long hair." Karen lifted an aged hand to briefly stroke the new layers.
Sarah shrugged (somewhat) lightheartedly. "I thought I would try a change."
"Well, I think it's very mature look." Karen said. "I wondered why you ever let it grow so long in the first place."
Sarah stared at her. Because, she reflected then, that's how maidens kept it in fantasy stories and tales. It was the norm in those worlds—
"Because Karen, that's how Kings preferred it."
Thanks to the readers who follow my progress!