The Fox at Midnight

Maya stared at herself in the bathroom mirror, phone propped up against the sink. The box dye promised 'copper sunset' but her hair looked more like she'd dunked her head in a bucket of rusty water.

"Ugh, this is a disaster," she groaled, texting a photo to Chloe.

Chloe replied instantly: "it's giving fox energy tho?? lowkey vibing"

Maya rolled her. Trust Chloe to find the bright side. Maya had spent three hours and $27 attempting to reinvent herself before Tyler's party tomorrow, because apparently being Maya with boring brown hair wasn't enough anymore. Not since Tyler had commented on Sarah's new highlights like they were a personality upgrade.

The bathroom door creaked open. Her little brother Leo stood there holding their goldfish bowl.

"Bubbles isn't moving."

"He's sleeping, Leo. Goldfish sleep."

"You sure? He looks dead."

Maya sighed and followed Leo to his room, where the fish floated sideways but definitely alive. She'd won Bubbles at the county fair last summer, somehow managing to keep him alive longer than any of her plants or her brief attempt at a sourdough starter. At least someone in this house was consistent.

Back in the bathroom, she caught her reflection again. The color wasn't terrible. It was just... different. Like she'd become someone slightly bolder, slightly more willing to take risks. Someone who dyed her hair at midnight before a party because she wanted to be seen.

Her phone buzzed. Tyler: "hope u can make it tomorrow"

Maya typed out a response, deleted it, typed again. Then she set the phone down and met her own eyes in the mirror. Fox hair or not, she was showing up. Maybe that was the point.

Leo appeared in the doorway again. "Mom says there's a fox in the backyard."

Maya followed him to the window, and sure enough—sleek rust-colored fur, bright eyes watching them from the edge of the patio. The fox dipped its head, almost like a greeting, then vanished into the darkness.

"See?" Leo whispered. "He likes your hair."