The city was hushed beneath a veil of early morning snow, the kind that made every sound softer, every breath visible. You stood near the frosted window of the department store, adjusting your coat nervously. Today was your first assignment—posing for a few candid shots for the New York Times holiday feature. You weren’t used to cameras, or to being noticed.

Across the room, Therese Belivet adjusted the settings on her camera. She wasn’t much older than you, though her eyes carried a quiet depth that made her seem wiser—curious, yet gentle.

“You don’t have to force a smile,” she said softly, lowering the camera a little. “Just… look out the window. Think of something you love.”