With my head in a tizzy and my heart unfamiliar with the new beat, I welcome my next client and take her to the basins. Agnes is an older lady and unlikely to show me any photographs from a phone. She brags the traditional way, telling me how great the grandkids are. How fabulous her daughter’s house is and how happy she is that her gay grandson has finally found a partner. My mind is doing its best to ignore the elephant in my brain. I pay as much attention as possible to Agnes.

Nodding, smiling, agreeing. Thanking God that hairdryers are noisy.

By lunchtime I’m feeling a bit stronger. There is no client booked in for my service for half an hour so I take the opportunity to approach Megan.

‘Feeling okay?’ she says, without looking up from the computer. How does she do that? It’s like she has a secret pair of eyes hidden somewhere on her head.

‘I’m fine, Megan, sorry about this morning, I don’t know what came over me.’

Megan moves her attention to the big book at her side. ‘No need to say sorry, Sal, as long as you’re okay?’

‘Yes, thanks.’ I stall, wondering if I’m doing the right thing asking, I don’t want to raise a flag. But then again it’s the only way I’m going to find out.

‘I was wondering if that young girl, Charlie, the girl whose hair I was doing this morning…’

‘Yes?’ Megan swirls around in her chair and looks at me. Suddenly I have her attention.

‘Did she leave a number when she was making the booking?’

‘She didn’t make a booking, Sal, she just walked in off the street.’

‘Oh.’ My face obviously can’t hide the disappointment. Megan has shuffled her chair closer to me.

‘Sal, do you want to tell me what’s going on?’

I do, I really do, but it’s crazy so I can’t. Shaking my head while moving away, Megan grabs my hand.

‘You know I’m here, Sal, if you need me.’

Don’t cry, Sally, for Christ’s sake, don’t cry in the middle of the shop. Trying my best to hold it together I head for the staffroom. Megan is so kind and caring with everyone, not just me. She’s like a mother to us all, even though she’s about ten years younger than me. I know I could trust Megan but I’m just not ready yet. Not ready to let anyone else know what I thought I saw, especially when I probably just imagined it.