The alarm pierced the quiet darkness at 5:30 a.m., casting a dim glow over the bedroom. Jade stirred, blinking away the early morning haze as she reached to silence the sound. She slipped quietly out of bed, leaving Brandon and Emma asleep in the stillness. There was something almost sacred about this time, a quiet that belonged only to her, before the demands of the day took over.
After a quick shower, she stood in front of the mirror, sipping her coffee and letting the steam lift the remnants of sleep from her skin. A deep breath, a small smile. Today was going to be long but she loved the unpredictability of these days.
When she arrived at the studio, it was buzzing with that familiar energy, crew members weaving around each other as they set up lights, tested cameras, and adjusted backdrops. The hum of quiet conversations and the scent of coffee mixed with the electric feeling of creativity in the air. She greeted a few familiar faces before slipping into her dressing room, where a makeup artist was waiting, already setting out an array of brushes, palettes, and powders.
Jade relaxed into the chair, letting the makeup artist's hands work their magic. Bold eyeliner transformed her gaze, bronzer added depth to her cheekbones, and a soft gloss brought out a hint of glamour. As she looked in the mirror, she felt herself stepping into the persona of today's shoot—elegant, mysterious, and captivating.
"Jade, wardrobe's ready for you!" someone called from down the hall, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She made her way to the wardrobe station, where rows of clothes waited under soft lighting. Fabrics in luxurious hues of red, emerald, and ivory hung neatly, each piece meant to create a specific look, tell a story. The stylist handed her a crimson gown with a daring slit and plunging neckline—an intense look, but Jade felt the allure of it as she slipped it on. It hugged her silhouette perfectly, instantly transforming her into a vision of strength and sophistication.
Stepping onto the set, Jade took her mark, her body instinctively moving in fluid poses as the camera clicked and flashed. Modeling was a rhythm, a language she knew in her bones. Each shift, each tilt of her head, every flicker of her eyes told a different story. She became someone new, a stranger she could only glimpse through the lens. And as the photographer directed her to hold a gaze, to tilt her chin, she let herself fully inhabit the character, losing herself in the fantasy.
Between takes, Jade stole moments to breathe, slipping out of heels and chatting with the other models about everything from recent shoots to the best coffee in town. In these moments, she was just herself again, a reminder of her roots and the people around her who understood the highs and lows of their world.
Hours passed in a blur of lights, fabric, and flashes, and by the time they wrapped, Jade felt the satisfying ache of a day's work. The team congratulated each other, and as Jade caught a glimpse of the final shots on the photographer's screen, she felt a surge of pride. This was her art—a fleeting moment, captured and sealed into an image that spoke a thousand words.
On the way to her car, Jade checked her phone. Brandon had texted: Dinner at home tonight. Emma wants to cook something special for you.
A smile crept across her face as she typed back, Can't wait! The glamour of the day felt like another world now, something she was stepping out of as she made her way home. There, she could shed the personas and let herself just be Jade; mom, partner, and the heart of their small, imperfect family.
As she pulled into the driveway, the warm lights spilling from the windows made her heart swell. She was ready to swap couture for pajamas, to lose herself in the little moments that mattered most. Tonight, she would leave the model in the magazines and simply be herself, surrounded by the love and laughter that couldn't be captured in any photograph.
