Suddenly Paulette felt the same kind of mental connection that she had with Darla. Only while Darla was a fundamentally happy person, this girl wasn't.
Sidney had been raped when she was a child. Since then she had never felt safe, and she protected herself by being unattractive and inconspicuous. But she wasn't a loner by nature, and the contrast between her sociable instincts and her paralyzing fear of getting close to anyone was tearing her apart.
Holding the enchanted hairpiece gave her a feeling of confidence, a residue of the enchantment Taylor had placed on it for Darla's benefit. For the first time in many years she actually gave thought to the idea of being pretty.
Then the hairpiece disappeared from her hand, and she fell back into despair.
+++++++++++++++++
Paulette found herself standing, fully human again, among her fellow devotees. She looked at Taylor. "Please, I have to go back." said Paulette "I have to help her. She needs me."