Call It What You Want - a Taylor Swift Story

Setting the Scene

A bit of background for Lila to set the scene

Lila's mother, Sarah, is a single parent in her early thirties, caught in the relentless cycle of work and stress. She has become emotionally drained and often lashes out at Lila, struggling to cope with her own frustrations and making ends meet.

At home, Lila tiptoes around her mother, sensing the tension in the air. Sarah's sharp words cut through the silence like glass-"Why can't you just be quiet?" or "I don't have time for your nonsense!" Lila feels invisible, her heart aching for the love and attention she so desperately needs and see's her friends at school receiving.

One day after school, Lila arrives home to find her mother overwhelmed and irritable. When Lila tries to share her day or show her drawings, Sarah brushes her off, too consumed by her own struggles. The silence that follows is suffocating, and Lila learns to mask her emotions, burying her feelings deep inside.

One evening, after a particularly harsh exchange where Sarah calls Lila "a burden," Lila locks herself in her room, tears streaming down her face. She clutches her drawings, pouring her heart into a picture of a family-happy, together, and supportive. It's a stark reminder of what she longs for but feels she can never have.

The cycle of verbal abuse leaves Lila feeling isolated and confused. She is desperate for her mother's approval, but every attempt to connect is met with harsh words.

Lila internalizes the pain, believing she is somehow to blame for her mother's unhappiness.

As Lila navigates her turbulent home life, she discovers a passion for dance. At school, she watches her classmates practice during recess, their bodies moving gracefully to the rhythm of the music. Inspired, she begins to learn on her own, using the small living room as her stage, dreaming of the day she can join a dance class. One day, a flyer is posted at school for auditions for a music video being filmed locally. . Lila's heart races at the thought of performing, Gathering her courage, she brings the flyer home. "Mom, I want to audition for this music video," she says, her voice steady but filled with hope. Sarah looks at the flyer, her expression shifting from indifference to irritation. "You think I have time for that? You're just going to embarrass yourself," she snaps.

The day of the audition arrives, and Lila is a bundle of nerves.

When Lila steps into the studio, the energy buzzes with excitement and anxiety. Other dancers are being lovingly watched by their parents but Lila's mom just looks at her phone the entire time paying no attention to the child.

Lila dances with all her heart, letting the music guide her movements. In that moment, she loses herself in the rhythm, the pain of her home life fading away. She dances like nobody's watching, pouring her emotions into every leap and twirl.
When the results are announced, Lila is filled with anxiety. To her surprise, she receives a callback, along with several other dancers. The joy that swells within her is overwhelming, a moment of validation she has longed for.

This is where Lila meets Taylor and the story truly begins.