C H A P T E R ~ O N E
“LIGHTNING, I got a new collar for you!” I called out for my Pomeranian dog as I entered my flat. I removed my coat and hung it before searching for my beloved dog. I called his name one more time before I can hear shuffling from upstairs as he quickly ran towards me, and jumped in joy. Laughing at him, I petted him gently and gave him a quick kiss on his head.
Lightning was just four months old. His mother died giving birth to five puppies that only one survived. Lightning was the only one that lived, when he came out he wasn’t breathing, but I was terribly hoping that he would live. I gazed down at him for a few minutes, almost giving up, until he started to breathe in like a flash of light. I was so happy, so I kept him and named him Lightning because of what happened to him. He reminded me so much of hope and strength.
I securely wrapped the gold collar I got him that has a silver lightning bolt as a pendant, his name engraved on the back. I smiled proudly at how it fitted the wonderful dog perfectly. The collar shined brightly as he ran around the flat and then came back to me, licking my cheek playfully.
It was almost seven months since I have stayed here in my flat in London alone. I always dreamt of studying here instead of in Australia or even in America, and I was happy that my family supported me for my decision. My mum was still working as a brain surgeon back in Australia and my dad was a cardiologist that owns the hospital where my mum works. I’ve always told them that it was time to retire since my siblings and I could live for ourselves now, but they were too stubborn to leave their dream jobs, so I let them be and supported them anyway. They were happy and that’s all I needed.
As I continued playing with Lightning, my phone suddenly vibrated on my pocket. Chuckling as I said, “Stop it, Lightning. I have to answer this call,” I gently moved away and stood back on my feet. I fished for my phone in my pocket, not bothering to who was calling as I answered it.
“Hello?”
“Claire! You’re needed at the shoot right now!” My best friend, Pamela, bellowed through the speakers. I inched my ear away from my phone, preventing to have hearing loss from the loud voice coming from my best friend. I don’t even know why I’m friends with this vivacious girl, when I was the complete opposite of her. I met her back in high school in freshman year back in Australia, she was a newbie back then, and I was the only girl who talked to her because the others think that she was quiet and boring. It was obvious that they were wrong.
I let out a chuckle before answering her, “Calm down, Pam. I’m not on the other side of the world so don’t yell! Now, what’s the problem?” I hear her breathing in and out gently, trying to calm her down, but I’m assuming that she failed once she yelled once again. “It’s an emergency! The model got sick and she can’t shoot today! But the producers need the pictures by tomorrow! Please! Help me!” I huffed, giving up on letting her calm down and minimize her voice.
Pamela is a photographer, she’s still a student of fine arts, but she’s trying with all her might to finish college and reach her dreams to become a professional photographer. The only problem with her is she easily panics at situations like this, like it’s a labyrinth that has no way out. I was always there to save her at her panic attacks; I even became a director once when her hired director didn’t come.
“Alright, alright, I’ll help you—as always. Just tell me what to do,” I sighed. I was some kind of super hero to Pamela for some reason, but I didn’t complain, it’s really fun working with her anyway, even though I was a medicine student, and not a model or a photographer or a director at any point.
The next thing she said almost sent eyes out of my eye sockets. “I need you to be the model, please! It’s easy!” I modelled before, yes, but I never said that I liked it and will continue it. This is why I ended being a medical student. Out of all things that Pamela will ask me to do, of course it’ll be modelling.
