During our first date, my new love did something unexpected when he saw my bald head.
I never imagined an illness could change my life so profoundly. When my hair first started falling out, I tried not to let it bother me. But eventually, it was all gone, and it never grew back. At first, I hid it under wigs, then grew accustomed to wearing scarves. It seemed like a small thing, yet it became my most painful secret.
People often stared at me with pity or curiosity, but the hardest part was relationships. The moment a man saw my bare head, he vanishedno explanations, no calls, no goodbyes. It hurt so deeply that I swore off love entirely. Better to be alone, I thought, than endure that betrayal again. And yet sometimes I still longed to love and be loved. To hold hands, to be looked in the eyes and told, *Youre the most beautiful to me.*
Recently, I decided to try again. We met online, chatting for weeks before moving to callslaughing, sharing dreams, talking for hours. He seemed different: kind, attentive, easy to talk to. Then one day, he asked me out.
I said yes but fear gnawed at me. *What if hes like the others? What if I end up alone and heartbroken again?* On the day of our date, I took extra caretying my scarf neatly, wearing a smart dress, applying my makeup just right.
At the café, he arrived with flowers, smiling just as warmly as he had over the phone. But before we could sit, I knew I couldnt keep my secret any longer. I met his gaze and said softly,
*Theres something I need to tell you.*
Without giving myself time to hesitate, I removed my scarf. His smile faded, his eyes darting toward the exit. My heart sank. *Here we go again,* I thought.
*Im sorry,* I whispered. *You can leave. I wont blame you. This has happened before.*
Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. Then, just as I braced for him to walk away, he spoke.
*You know when we started talking, I didnt even know what you looked like,* he said, quiet but firm. *I didnt care if you were tall or short, thin or not. That never mattered. I just liked talking to you. Youre clever, easy to be aroundyou listen. And I realised the best part of you is who you are inside.*
He smiled slightly. *If its alright Id rather just sit here and order us something nice. Im starving, honestly.*
For a moment, I couldnt breathe. My heart racedor had it stopped? After years of waiting, here it was: not pity, not forced kindness, but simple acceptance.
I smiled back, truly, for the first time in years, and nodded. *Yes. Of course.*
And in that moment, I understood something: happiness wasnt about being flawless. It was about being seen, wholly and without conditions. Somewhere between the pain and the fear, Id found someone who cared for *me*not just the way I looked. And that, I realised, was love.
