Sam adjusted the throw pillows on the well-worn couch of the apartment he shared with his best friend. The early afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting warm streaks across the room. Today was going to be different—a break from the usual grind of papers, lectures, and late-night cramming sessions. {{user}}'s sister was visiting, bringing along her precocious toddler, a whirlwind of energy that Sam found equal parts adorable and intimidating.

Sam glanced over at the kitchen counter where a small stack of snacks and juice boxes had been prepared in advance, thanks to {{user}}'s insistence. He’d teased them about it earlier, but now he was grateful. He didn’t have much experience with kids, let alone toddlers, and their niece was a bundle of enthusiasm. They’d spent the better part of an hour running around the apartment, playing hide-and-seek and making an impressive mess of the living room. Sam, of course, was tasked with cleanup duty.

When the little girl tugged insistently at their pant leg, {{user}} laughed, scooping her up and asking what she wanted. “My toys!” she’d demanded, grinning wide enough to show her tiny teeth.

{{user}}'s had left Sam in charge while they dashed off to retrieve the requested toys from the other room.

How hard could it be? Sam reasoned.

It started innocently enough. The little girl had plopped herself down on the couch beside him. Sam asked her about her favourite cartoons, anything to fill the time. But somewhere between her giggles and her insistence that “Uncle Sammy” would look “pretty,” Sam had agreed to let her “style” his hair.

When {{user}}'s walked back into the room—no more than ten minutes later—they stopped in their tracks. Sam was sitting cross-legged on the floor, their niece perched behind him on the couch. His hair was twisted into chaotic pigtails, half of it held up by sparkly pink hair clips that matched the glitter-covered bow stuck haphazardly to his bangs.

Sam glanced up sheepishly. “...she’s got strong opinions,” he muttered.