In the Heavens

Chapter forty-nine

Sitting in a large bathtub while three of Isadora's closest friends detangled her hair wasn't exactly ideal, but after the state that she was left in following his departure, it was required unless she wanted to go bald. 

Stella, who was instructing the girls on what to do, offered the princess a sympathetic smile as she placed a warm hand on her shoulder. "We're here to listen anytime you're ready to talk, ok?" 

Isadora nodded her head in understanding before slinking further into the water, resulting in Musa, Flora and Stella leaning in closer. The first section that was fully detangled was the white chunk of hair at the front of her head. 

She brought a tentative hand to the piece of hair and held it out to see for herself. Coated in a detangling mask, it held all of her curls in one slick mass, coating her hand in the product as she dropped it, quietly wincing at the freezing sensation once it slapped her chest. 

"Once we're done with your hair, I'm going to have to wear a shower cap for a total of ten minutes. When the ten minutes are up, you'll rinse the stuff out and run a brush through your hair to get rid of any tangles that me missed." 

Following Stella's explanation, the room fell into a comfortable silence as classical tunes filled the bathroom. 

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, all of Isadora's hair was no detangled. Piles of shed hair rested on the bathroom floor in three medium-sized blobs. As for the hair on her head, it was now being twisted up and held atop her head by Stella while Musa placed a shower cap over her hair. 

"Now, take a shower and leave the cap alone. While you're in here, I'll be outside with a timer for fifteen minutes. When it's over, I'll let you know when you should rinse the detangler and wash your hair." 

Isadora nodded her head in understanding, allowing Stella, Musa, and Flora to file out of the bathroom, leaving the brunette to her own devices. Slowly, she pushed herself out of the cold water, standing still for a few seconds to allow the water to run from her body. 

Once done, she made her way over to the shower in small strides, keeping her pace steady as her feet slid against the white tiled floors. When she was by the shower, she turned its nobs, watching with satisfaction as water rushed from overhead. 

Only when the room was filled with steam did she step in. As the water hit her, Isadora closed her eyes, letting the warmth envelop her. It was the first time in days that she felt anything close to comfort. The water mixed with her tears, washing away the salt and the sadness, if only for a moment.

She leaned against the cool tiles, her body trembling with the effort of holding herself together. The grief was a constant ache, a hollow emptiness that gnawed at her insides. Isadora scrubbed her skin with a rough washcloth, as if trying to cleanse herself of the pain that had taken root deep within her.

The scent of lavender soap filled the air, a faint reminder of better times. She lathered her hair, the motions mechanical and devoid of thought. The water ran in rivulets down her back, carrying away the remnants of her sorrow.

For a brief moment, Isadora allowed herself to remember. The laughter, the love, the moments that now felt like a lifetime ago. The memories were bittersweet, a reminder of what she had lost. But in the shower, with the water as her only witness, she could let the tears flow freely.

As the water began to cool, Isadora took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She knew she couldn't stay in the shower forever, hiding from the world and her grief. But for those few precious minutes, she had found a small measure of solace.

Finally, Stella knocked on the door three times before calling out "You can rinse your hair now. Make sure that you get the roots too!" 

Before she could think too much about it, she snatched the shower cap from her head and took a sharp breath instantly. The feeling of slick hair hitting her back in a cold mass wasn't a very nice feeling.