My Son Shaved His Head for His Sick Girlfriend—Then Her Mother Called Me from the Hospital

“What did Aaron do?”

Diane swallowed.

“I thought he was making her illness public. I thought he had invited people here to stare at her.”

“And now?”

She listened to another burst of laughter.

“Now I’m not sure.”

I placed my hand gently on her shoulder.

“He may not be turning her into a spectacle, Diane.”

She glanced at me.

“He may be reminding her that she still belongs to the world outside this room.”

Her face crumpled.

“I think I understand that now.”

She pushed the door open.

Part Five: What My Son Had Done

I stepped into the room and froze.

Aaron sat beside Lily’s bed.

Both of them were laughing so hard that Lily had one hand pressed against her stomach. A bright scarf covered part of her head, but loose strands of hair rested against her pillow.

Aaron’s head was still completely bare.