𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 {𝐇.𝐒}

:I:

"Miss Union, please tell the rest of your slacking classmates about chapter three's topic on Psychoanalysis."

I look up from my notes and at my professor in my psychology lecture, clearing my throat and standing up in front of the full classroom of about two-hundred classmates. I've gotten used to the large number of people in this class, it was actually bigger my freshman year, which was three years ago. Now I'm a senior in undergraduate school.

"Psychoanalysis remains an important concept and practice to this day. Pushed by Sigmund Freud, he drowned himself in countless amounts of paperwork to prove his theory that our personalities are shaped by unconscious motives. What he was trying to say was that we are profoundly affected by mental processes we are not even aware of. He also believes that you could find your sub conscious, literally the thing under your conscious, by using dreams, projections and free association to root out repressed feelings and gain self-insight. Basically like that little voice in your head that tells you the green dress you saw at TJ Maxx really isn't that cute on you," I shrug and hear a couple of people laugh but continue. "So you put it back on the rack. When you first hear the word psychoanalysis, the first thing that pops into your head is a person laying on a couch telling all of their problems to a psychologist, which is part of it. But it is mainly an experiment, or understanding of the source of problems."

"I'm glad that somebody studied last night. Well, lecture is dismissed for today and I better see some improvement from the rest of you. Well done Miss Union." Professor Clinton winks at me, and I smile as I pack up my things and head out as well as everyone else.

I'm so exhausted from schoolwork and my internship at the psychological practice Professor Clinton. I honestly need to take a 23 hour nap to catch up on all the sleep I've not gotten these last three years, but I have so much to do.

Starting with a haircut.

It's time.

I've been rocking these locks for the longest, and I need to grow up a bit when it comes to my choice of a hairdo.

I decide to make an appointment this afternoon at my current salon, and drive back to my apartment so that I can take a quick nap and change before I go to get my hair done. I have to go to the practice later on and this haircut will take up most of my free time. We have to dress professionally, and I honestly don't like it. I've gotten used to wearing T-shirt's and jeans and sweatpants over the past three years since I was living with Harry.

I change from the simple oversized T-shirt and shorts I had on for classes to a black distressed skirt with a white tank top, covered with a creme colored blazer. I add some gold necklaces and my black wide strap belt with the golden buckle on it and pair it with some nude stilettos. Professor Clinton lets us dress a little bit casual on Fridays, so this is down my alley.

After changing clothes I grab a black shoulder purse and my keys and lock the door before heading out and into my car.

Once I get to the salon, I tell them my name and they immediately sit me down at a chair and begin washing my hair and conditioning it. After blow drying it, my hairstylist, Ms. Lashay, fluffs around in my hair a bit before asking, "What would you like done to your hair babygirl?"

"I want something short, but not too short. Shoulder-length maybe?" I tell her, and I can see her shocked expression in the mirror.

"Now honey, are you sure that this change is what you want? I mean, you've have it since you was a little girl-"

"Exactly! I want to have a change in my life and show people a new side of me. I've grown up, Ms. Lashay, and I want my hair to at least match my age. I'm going to be a walking the stage as an undergraduate this year, and I want to look different in those pictures than what I did when I waked the stage for my high school graduation."

She gives me a good long look before sighing and running her fingers through my hair. "I'm gonna miss this."

"I am too."