A long story
There was no answer. I waited and waited, feeling more and more awkward with each passing second. Then, to my great relief, the kitchen door opened and JJ stepped in.
For a moment—or two, or dozen—I just took him in. The terrible burns disappeared like a bad dream from his pale skin, leaving it as smooth as ever. Even his destroyed eye was as clear and green as its twin.
But his hair… He cut away the burned parts and evened the rest out. As a result, the luxurious strawberry-blond locks that once fell to his shoulders now barely covered JJ's ears. It made him look a couple years younger, but also somewhat unfinished. Like an unripe fruit.