𝑺𝑯𝑬, héctor fort

001

Mira Kai sat back on the plush couch in her living room, the sun streaming through the windows of her spacious house in Morocco. It was early afternoon, and everything was calm. Too calm. She stretched her arms, yawning, her long, curly hair spilling over her shoulders, still damp from the shower she had taken after an early morning horseback ride.

Her house—massive, like something out of a dream—was nestled in the hills outside Marrakech. The view from the balcony was breathtaking: miles of orange sand, green valleys, and distant mountains. Her family had lived here for years. It was home, a place of comfort. A place where she could just... be.

"Reo, Loki, Daisy, Ruby!" Mira called out, her voice ringing through the quiet halls. Moments later, four very different dogs came bounding into the living room. Reo, her playful Dalmatian, skidded to a stop right in front of her, tail wagging furiously. Loki, her Doberman, was more reserved but walked over to her with a gentle nudge. Daisy, the Cocker Spaniel, hopped up onto the couch beside her, settling down with a sigh. Ruby, her Dachshund, came last, her tiny legs running furiously to catch up.

Mira laughed, reaching down to scratch Ruby's belly. "You're all so spoiled."

But she couldn't help it. After years of touring and traveling, the house was the one place where she could enjoy the company of her dogs, who were like family to her. She'd grown up surrounded by love—her dad, Walid, always there when she needed him, even if he lived in Morocco and she'd spent most of her time growing up in the States with her mom, Sara.

Her family was close. Really close. She could count on them for anything, even if the world outside sometimes made her feel like an alien in her own skin. Fame was a weird thing. It felt like it came with so many expectations. The world saw her as Mira Kai, the Grammy-winning pop star. But at home, she was just Mira—daughter, sister, dog lover, and occasional horse whisperer.

She leaned back, letting her dogs surround her, her feet tucked under her as she scrolled through her phone. She laughed at a video Anya had sent her, her best friend's goofy face practically taking over the screen.

"Anya," she muttered with a smirk. They had known each other since she was 13. She was the one person who could make her laugh when everything else was too much, someone who reminded her that life didn't have to be all about red carpets and photoshoots.

Mira glanced out the window at the horizon, a small sigh escaping her lips. It had been a while since she'd been able to just relax without thinking about the next project, the next song, or the next big event. That was the life she led—always busy, always in the spotlight. But today, it felt different. She needed this. The quiet. The normal. The simple moments with the people and dogs who truly mattered.

"Want to go out, guys?" she asked, rising from the couch. Reo immediately leapt to his feet, tail wagging. Loki followed more slowly, his dark eyes watching her closely. Daisy, ever the princess, stretched and hopped down from the couch with minimal effort. Ruby was the last to get up, her short legs moving a bit slower but still full of energy.

Mira smiled, grabbing a pair of sunglasses and heading outside to the spacious garden. Her feet sank into the cool earth as she walked down to the small pond at the edge of the property. There, a stable stood, a place where she spent a lot of time. The horses were already out, grazing lazily. Mira walked up to the first one, a beautiful chestnut mare named Belle. She stroked the horse's neck softly, feeling the warmth of her fur under her fingers.

"How are you doing today?" Mira whispered, though she knew the mare couldn't answer her. Still, it was a question she always asked. She liked to check in with her animals, as if they were her silent companions in this world that often felt too loud.

The silence of the moment felt soothing. Mira closed her eyes for a moment, just breathing in the fresh air, allowing herself to forget about everything else—the deadlines, the meetings, the public appearances. Right now, it was just her and her animals. No cameras, no fans, no expectations.

"Everything's fine, right, Reo?" she asked, turning to look at the Dalmatian, who was sniffing around the garden, tail wagging. He looked back at her, as if to say, "Of course, everything's fine."

Mira's phone buzzed, interrupting the calm. She glanced down at the screen. It was an email.

"Shit, it's from Adidas," she muttered to herself, her curiosity piqued. She didn't get many emails from brands, but when she did, they were usually important.

She swiped to open it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the subject: "Exciting Collaboration Opportunity".

A grin spread across her face. She leaned back against the fence, the wind blowing through her hair. This could be the next big thing. Something different. Something that would challenge her in new ways.

But for now, it was just an email. She would respond later.

For the moment, Mira Kai was just a girl with four dogs, a few horses, and a love for quiet afternoons. She was thankful for it all. And for the first time in a long while, it felt enough.

As she hit "reply" and started typing her response, a small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that the world was waiting for her to do something next. But, just for today, she would savor the peace.