Tenderness, Grief, and Dental Chairs

Deep Fix №22

Last week, I was reclined in a dental chair, opening my mouth as wide as I could muster, staring into the kind face of a middle-aged woman. Her curly hair looked wet, as though she had just showered. Considering it was 2 p.m., I reasoned she likely styles her ringlets as such, using the type of hair gel that turns curls into spiraling icicles.

“Are you a…