Mirror To Your Soul

Capture Layla

“Mom, please tell me another one of your many fun stories. I haven’t seen you in ages and you know how busy the model industry can get.” My daughter yells at me. Willow has always been my everything. My husband, Marcel blessed me with the best child a mother could ask for. She is so bright, confident and is a fantastic model. At only 21, she’s walked some of the biggest runways in the world and I honestly wouldn’t be any prouder.

“I’ve told you all of my stories Willow. How many more should I tell you?” I say and I’m not wrong but there’s one story I haven’t mentioned to her.

“The story you promised to tell me when I get older.” She says and I can’t help but laugh. Of course, it’s this exact story.

“Well, are you ready for it?” I say and smile

“I’m ready. I’m very ready.”

My name is Layla Harper. I am a photographer. I have worked with every big company you could think of. I’m one of the best and richest photographers in the world, according to Forbes. My husband is Marcel Harper, the most famous artist in the world right now. He created the most eye-opening painting in the world that has become even more expensive than the Monalisa. Together we have a daughter Willow who has created so much success for herself at such a young age. My life is perfect and I wouldn’t have it any other way but there’s one thing I’ve kept from everyone I love and I don’t know how I would even start this.

My life has not always been perfect. Before I was Layla the most famous photographer in the world. I was, just Layla. The girl who lived a very carefree but toxic life.

“This story will change a lot of how you see me. I hope you’ll understand it and be as open-minded as you can.” I say to my daughter because this is a big thing for me to share. I’m worried but I can’t keep holding on to something so big.

“I promise Mom. It will be between me and you.” I say and she honestly seems so excited to hear this side of me.

“The story all began when I turned 18..”

FLASHBACK

My life was pretty simple growing up. Where I grew up, being a woman meant you were groomed to take care of men. Our whole existence was based on the idea of men but I knew I wanted better for myself. I knew that I had more to give in this life than just that for men.

Facebook was the in thing and I loved the time I spent on that app. I met so many cool people but one day I stumbled upon this girl who took cool pictures. She seemed like a cool girl and I wanted to know how she managed to make her pictures look so cool. So I friended her and waited for her to get back to me.

She finally added me and I was very excited to be part of her friend list. I didn’t know much about her I just liked how she took her pictures.

I texted telling her she was cool and she replied saying she found me cool too. I didn’t have the best camera back then but I tried my best to take pictures.

We connected almost immediately and we talked all the time about the boyfriends we had at the time and just other random things. It was never that serious. I got so used to her that we talked all the time and it was the best part of my day. She was very calm and funny and a little closer off the head and there.

As I walked towards the coffee shop where we agreed to meet, my heart was pounding so hard, I could feel it in my throat. I had been talking to Willow online for a few weeks now, and we had really hit it off. Our conversations had been effortless, and we had discovered so many similarities in our lives that it felt like we had known each other for years.

But meeting in person was a whole different ballgame. I was nervous about what she would think of me, whether we would have the same connection in person as we did online. Would she still find me interesting once she saw me up close?

As I approached the coffee shop, I saw her sitting at a table outside, waving at me. She looked so beautiful, with her long blonde hair falling in waves around her face, and her bright blue eyes sparkling in the sun. I took a deep breath and walked towards her, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach.

"Hi," I said, as I sat down across from her. "It's so good to finally meet you in person."

"Hi," she said, smiling at me warmly. "It's great to finally see you too."

We ordered our drinks and sat there, talking for what felt like hours. We talked about everything, from our favorite movies to our hopes and dreams for the future. But what struck me the most was how similar our lives had been.

We both grew up without our dads being present in our lives, and our moms were struggling to take care of us on their own. We both ended up living with our aunts, who became our primary caregivers. It was almost eerie how similar our stories were.

As we talked, I felt myself opening up to her in a way that I never had with anyone else before. I felt like she really understood me, and I could tell that she felt the same way.

Eventually, we decided to head back to her house to continue our conversation. As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. This felt like the start of something special, something that could change both of our lives for the better.

When we got to her house, we continued our conversation, talking and laughing until the sun began to set. We ordered takeout and ate it while watching our favorite TV show, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

As the night wore on and it was time for me to go home, I felt a sense of sadness wash over me. I didn't want this day to end, I didn't want to leave her. But I knew that this was only the beginning of our journey together, and that there would be many more days like this to come.

As I walked home, I couldn't stop thinking about her, about the way she made me feel. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had found someone who really understood me, who accepted me for who I was.

And as I drifted off to sleep that night, I knew that my life would never be the same again.