01 21 Sophia Gonzales New Talen... Upd - Watch4beauty 25

Sophia did as told. The January light through the grimy glass was pale gold, almost gray. She felt exposed, not because she was undressed—she wore a simple tank top and jeans—but because Lena’s silence was louder than any direction.

Sophia thought of her little brother tripping over the cat that morning. A real smile broke through—unplanned, unguarded. Watch4Beauty 25 01 21 Sophia Gonzales New Talen... UPD

Sophia nodded, not trusting her voice. As she walked out, the LA sky was that strange bruised purple before night falls fast. She didn’t feel like a new talent. She felt like a question. Sophia did as told

“Again,” Lena said. “Now look at me like I just said something funny.” Sophia thought of her little brother tripping over

The photographer, Lena, didn’t look up from her monitor at first. “You’re late.”

“Traffic,” Sophia lied. Truth was, she’d sat in her car for twenty minutes, heart hammering.