the late afternoon light streamed into victoria’s dorm room, casting a warm glow on the eclectic mix of art supplies and photography gear strewn about.

you were lounging on her bed, scrolling through your phone while she worked on a new project at her desk. there was a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the soft clicking of her camera shutter as she experimented with different angles for a series of self-portraits.

“okay, how about this one?” victoria said, turning her laptop screen toward you. the photo displayed her framed in soft light, her expression a perfect mix of fierce and playful.