The studio Jonah used was not what Lily expected. She had imagined something glossy and perfect with white walls and people in headsets moving fast. Instead it was on the second floor of an old brick building that smelled faintly like dust and sunlight. The hallway floor creaked. The windows were tall and open and let in pale morning light. She could hear traffic from the street below and the distant rattle of a train. It felt less like a set and more like a place where real life still happened

Jonah met her at the door. He was in his thirties maybe older with messy hair and a camera hanging from his neck. He wore a black T shirt and sneakers and looked like someone who forgot to sleep. You’re Lily he said. Good. You’re on time. That already puts you ahead of half the people I work with

She smiled a little. Thank you

He nodded toward the far end of the room. We’re doing natural light shots he said. City story kind of thing. No heavy makeup. No big styling. Just you standing like you live here. Think of it more like hanging out than modeling

That made her relax. She followed him to a corner near a cracked window. The wall behind her had peeling paint. A long mirror leaned against it, old and a little warped. There were faint scratches across the glass. She could see herself in it. Not perfect. Real

Jonah lifted his camera but did not shoot yet. Tell me about you he said

Lily shifted her weight. About me

Yeah. Where you’re from. Why you’re here. Why you think I should point this thing at you instead of someone else

She let out a small breath. I used to work at a convenience store she said. Overnight shifts. I thought that was going to be my life. Then I found a flyer and I went to an audition and I quit

He raised his eyebrows. That simple

No she said. That hard

He smiled at that. Good answer. Now turn a little toward the light. Shoulders down. Chin relaxed. Don’t pose. Just exist. I’ll do the rest

The first few shots felt strange. Every click of the camera echoed through the room. Lily tried to keep her breathing steady. She felt aware of every inch of her body. Her hands her jaw her shoulders. She wondered if she looked stiff and awkward. She wondered if he could see how nervous she was

Then Jonah said something that changed the air in her chest. Stop trying to look like a model

I am here to model she said quietly

He shook his head. I didn’t say stop modeling. I said stop trying to look like a model. There’s a difference. You’re here because you look like a person. The moment you try to look like something else I lose you

She let those words settle. She looked at her reflection in the leaning mirror. No studio makeup. Small tired shadows under her eyes. Soft mouth. Loose hair. Nothing about her shouted fashion. She looked like someone you’d stand behind in line at a late night coffee shop. Someone who handed you change and told you to have a good night. Someone real

She felt her shoulders drop. Her face softened. Her eyes stopped fighting the light

Jonah clicked again. There you are he said. That’s the one

They moved to another corner of the studio near a window that faced the street. The sound of cars floated up warm and thin. Lily leaned her hip against the sill and looked down at the people below. A couple arguing by a taxi. A kid dragging a skateboard. A delivery guy jogging with iced drinks in a tray. All of them part of a moving picture. All of them not knowing she was watching

When Jonah shot there she forgot about him for a moment. She forgot about angles and posture and the way her hands should rest. She just watched the city breathe. The camera clicked fast then slowed then stopped

You’re easy to shoot he said

I feel nervous

Good. Nervous is alive. I can’t work with bored. Bored is dead

She laughed softly. Her chest felt lighter now. She understood what he meant. He was not trying to change her face. He was trying to catch it

They took a break and sat on the floor with paper cups of coffee. The studio air was warm now, touched by late morning sun. Jonah leaned back against the wall and studied her like he was still framing her in his head. You know what the hardest part of this is he asked

The posing she said

No. The waiting. The industry will make you wait for calls. Wait for chances. Wait for people to see you. Sometimes it feels like you’re frozen while the whole city moves around you. That part makes people quit

Lily wrapped her hands around her cup. I know about waiting she said softly. I did it for years

He nodded. Then maybe you’ll last

They went back to shooting. This time he didn’t give her much direction. Walk toward me. Look past me. Sit on the table. Mess with your sleeve. Look like you’re thinking about leaving but not sure yet. She understood that one. She had lived that moment

After the last shot he lowered the camera and looked satisfied. Good. I got what I need. You can head out. We’ll send selects. You’re getting paid for today. It’s not huge money but it’s honest money

Thank you she said. She meant it

He smiled. One more thing. This city is full of faces. It’s like a flood. If you let other people tell you what yours should look like you’ll drown

She nodded slowly. I’ll remember

Good he said. Because most people don’t

When she stepped back into the hallway the air felt cooler. She could still hear traffic through the open stairwell window. She walked down the old steps and her hand brushed the railing worn smooth by years of people using it. She thought about his words. Stop trying to look like a model. Don’t drown

Outside the sun had climbed higher. The sky over the street was clear and pale. People rushed past her without looking twice. A bus roared by. A bike messenger cut between cars. Somewhere a car horn yelled and kept yelling. Normal day. Normal noise. Normal city. But to Lily it all felt different

She did not feel like a dreamer anymore. She felt like part of the city now. Not watching it from behind glass. Inside it

At the bus stop she saw her reflection in the scratched plastic of the shelter. She lifted her chin just a little. Not posing. Just seeing herself

Her phone buzzed. A new message from Carla. Job next Thursday. Small streetwear brand. They asked for you by name. Congrats

Lily covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes stung for a second. Asked for you by name. She read that part more than once. Someone remembered her

On the ride home she leaned her head against the bus window. The glass vibrated softly with the road. Her chest felt full in a way that almost hurt but not in a bad way. It felt like something growing

When she got back to the apartment Maya was sitting on the couch eating cereal from a mixing bowl. She looked up with raised eyebrows. Well

It went good Lily said

Maya grinned. Yeah I can see it on your face. You’re different. Taller or something

I’m the same height Lily said

Not like that Maya said. You know what I mean

Lily dropped her bag and sat down. She let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. She leaned back and let her head rest on the cushion. Her body felt tired in a deep way but steady

I like the way it feels she said quietly

What feels

Being seen

Maya nodded slowly. Yeah. Hold on to that. People are going to try to take it

Lily looked at her. You think it’s going to get harder

Yes Maya said. For sure. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it

Lily smiled. Her eyes were still warm. She thought about the cracked window the leaning mirror the way her own face had looked back at her. She knew now that this job was not only about standing in front of a camera. It was about standing in front of herself and not looking away

That night she printed one of the photos Jonah sent as a preview. It was slightly grainy and the light leaned gold across her cheek. She taped it to the wall beside her bed. The girl in the picture looked calm and alive and honest

Before turning off the light she touched the corner of the paper with her fingertips and whispered I’ll protect you

Then she lay down in the dark

And for the first time she did not fall asleep wondering if she deserved to be there

She fell asleep knowing she did