Perfectly Braided Hair

As he felt the warmth of Anita's mouth,
he looked down at her braided crown
and heard the echo of young voices
from a beauty salon earlier that day
looking forward to their senior prom.  
 
The cheerful chirping of girls
blooming with potential filled the air
and made Anita’s mother smile.
Could she have imagined
the thresholds her child would cross
this night on life’s journey
sometimes measured in mere hours?
 
The swirls of Anita's braided hair
carried a narrative of affection,
both fresh and time-honored.
Lost in the thrill of her
and drawn by the heat of her lips,
the young man sensed her unfolding
and the weight of her tender gift
as he watched the gentle sway
of her perfectly braided hair.