Chapter Text
Max was born on a sunny June morning, with fiery red hair and blue eyes that seemed to reflect the sky. From the moment Susan held her, she knew her daughter was destined to be special. In the first few months, Max was the center of attention wherever they went. Her charming smile and porcelain doll-like appearance caught the attention of strangers who stopped to admire her.
Life for Susan and Sam was simple. They lived in a modest apartment in California, struggling to make ends meet. Sam worked at an auto parts factory, while Susan did odd jobs as a secretary. They weren't rich, but they always found a way to get by.
Everything changed when Max turned six months old. One day, at the grocery store, a woman approached Susan. "Sorry to interrupt, but your baby is beautiful. I work at a talent agency and we're looking for babies for a diaper commercial. Would you be interested?"
Susan, intrigued, agreed to take the contact number. That night, she shared the idea with Sam. “Listen, Sam. It’s just a commercial. They’ll pay five hundred dollars for a couple of hours. We could use that money to catch up on bills,” Susan said excitedly. “I don’t know, Susan. A baby in front of the cameras? That seems weird,” Sam replied cautiously. “It’ll only be one time. We won’t lose anything by trying,” she insisted.
Sam, seeing an opportunity to relieve some of the financial pressure, agreed. The next day, Susan took Max to the casting call. The baby charmed the crew from the moment they walked in. With her infectious laugh and lively eyes, Max got the part immediately.
The day of shooting was quick and easy. Max barely noticed the cameras as he played with some colored blocks on the set. When Susan received the five hundred dollar check, she felt a relief she hadn’t experienced in months. “See, Sam? This could help us a lot,” she told her that night.
Small jobs started coming in: a baby food commercial, a photo shoot for children's clothing. Agencies were thrilled with Max. Every time Susan brought her to a casting, producers were fascinated.
One afternoon, after a successful shoot, a producer named David approached Susan. “There's something unique about your daughter. That mix of red hair and fair skin... She's like a doll. If you're willing, we could represent her in more projects. We're talking thousands of dollars per contract,” he said as he handed her his business card.
Susan thought about it for days. On the one hand, she knew this could change their lives. On the other, she was afraid of how it might affect Max. She decided to talk to Sam. “Sam, listen to this. David, the producer of the commercial, wants to represent her. He says we could make enough money to move to a better house. Max wouldn't suffer. It'll only be a couple of hours a week.”
Sam, though reluctant, agreed again. “If this means improving our situation, fine. But nothing extreme, Susan. Max is still a child.”
However, things quickly began to change. With each new contract, the sessions became more frequent and the payments higher. Within two years, Max had earned enough money to buy his own college fund. Susan watched the checks come in and couldn't help but feel proud.
But for Sam, this began to feel like work. The arguments became frequent. “Susan, this wasn't what we planned. You said it would just be an occasional thing,” Sam demanded one night. “What's wrong with it? Max is happy, and we're better off than ever. Would you rather go back to worrying about rent every month?”
Susan's words were harsh, but she couldn't help it. She saw a bright future for Max, even if it meant sacrificing some normalcy.
By the time Max turned four, things were worse than ever between them. One night, after a long day at work, Sam snapped. “I can't go on like this, Susan. I feel like we're exploiting our daughter. This isn't normal.” —"Exploit her? Do you think I'm doing this for me? This is all for her, to give her the life she deserves," Susan replied, tears in her eyes.
Finally, the marriage couldn't take the pressure. Sam moved out, leaving Susan alone with Max. Although hurt, Susan knew she was doing the right thing. She looked at her daughter that night, as she slept peacefully, and promised she would do everything she could to secure her future.
—"No matter what happens, Max. You are meant to shine."