Behind the Lights ~ Nika Mühl

The Breakthrough

Before Jaia got her big break at the tender age of 13 years old, her life was nothing short of a living nightmare. Both of her parents were high functioning alcoholics and were deeply entrenched in the world of hard drugs. The volatile combination had turned their home into a battleground, where harsh words and violent outbursts were the norm. Darrien did everything in his power to shield her from the worst of it. He would cover her ears during the loudest fights, distract her with stories, or take her outside to escape the chaos. But no matter how hard he tried, Darrien couldn't block out everything. The shouts, the crashing bottles, the overwhelming sense of fear —they all seeped through, leaving permanent scars on Jaia's young mind. School should've been a sanctuary, but it wasn't, making friends was hard when one is too busy focusing on survival.

Acting, however, offered her an escape, a world far removed from the grim reality of her daily life. Whenever she stepped in front of a camera, the noise in her head quieted, the fear subsided and she could be someone else, if only for a little while. That's why, when she landed the role of Sadie in the comedy movie 'This is Forty', it felt like more than just a big break —it was salvation. Practically overnight, Jaia went from being a troubled girl from a broken home to a beloved young actress who captured the heart of audiences with her undeniable charm and natural talent. Critics praised her (at first), fans adored her, and for the first time in her life, she didn't feel like the scared, lonely girl from her parents' house, but someone who mattered.

Darrien, always the protective older brother, quickly took the role of manager/bodyguard, hiring Gladys, a seasoned professional to help navigate the treacherous waters of Hollywood. It wasn't long before Jaia's life became a whirlwind of auditions, movie sets, red carpets, and interviews. And though she rarely saw her parents anymore, a fact she was grateful for, Hollywood became its own kind of prison. Over the years, Jaia meticulously crafted a public persona that was warm, charismatic, and utterly impenetrable. But behind that carefully constructed facade, she was still that young, wide eyed girl listening to her parents scream at each other relentlessly.

Then, everything changed when she started dating Bella Hadid. Bella was unlike anyone Jaia had every met—gorgeous, confident, and completely captivating. When Bella looked at her, Jaia felt seen in a way she never had before and for the first time, she dared to believe that maybe, just maybe she could let someone in. Bella took her to emotional heights she never thought possible; Jaia was out of her mind in love, completely intoxicated by the woman who had seemingly walked straight out of her dreams.

But love, as Jaia quickly learned, could be as cruel as it was beautiful. Bella was a serial cheater, and no matter how many times she broke Jaia's heart, Jaia found herself crawling back, desperate for a high only Bella could provide. Forgiving Bella became second nature , even as it slowly tore Jaia apart. After their final, devastating breakup, Jaia spiraled out of control. She turned to drugs, drinking even more heavily than before, almost getting sent to rehab, all while ignoring the painful truth—that she was continuing the same dangerous cycle she'd vowed to never repeat.

Everything Jaia had endured—her childhood, her tumultuous career, her heartbreaking relationship with Bella—had shaped her into the woman she was today. On the outside, she was warm, inviting, the picture of success. But beneath the surface, she was ice cold, locked away behind walls so thick that she wasn't even sure if anyone could ever break through.

Jaia sighed as she took another long, deep drag from the joint in her hand. The familiar, numbing haze began to settle over her as she let her head loll back against the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. With her free hand, she picked up the remote and began flipping mindlessly through the channels, not really caring what she landed on. But then she froze, her thumb hovering over the remote's button as the screen settled on a basketball game.