Her fingers curl, beckoning toward the hat. “Hand it over. I wanna try.”
I pass it to her.
It’s not quite right.
“Legs apart,” I say, stepping closer. “Hands on your hips—higher. Let your elbows stick out.” I tilt my chin in demonstration. “Chin up. Just a little.”
A beat.
I nod. “Perfect. Don’t move.”
Excitement edges into my voice as I turn and scan the shelf, fingers skimming over worn spines and scattered trinkets until I find it. I snatch up the Polaroid camera I unearthed years ago, its weight familiar in my hand. I’ve rationed the film carefully.
Knowing this is absolutely worth it, I show it to Lila.
Her eyes widen, glee lighting up her face. “Is that what I think it is?”
“A camera, yes.”
I lift it, spying her through the lens as I back into the doorway until she fills the frame. “Ready?”
“Yes!”
I snap the photo and hold my hand out, catching it as it spills from the front. I fan it gently, watching the image appear.
Lila sets the hat aside and hurries over, leaning in. Her eyes shine as the picture slowly develops.
“That is fucking amazing!”
“Lila,” I scold.
“What? It is.”
I hand it over, and she studies it for a long moment. Then her smile falters, just slightly. “But we didn’t get my shadow?”
“We can take another.”
Like a boomerang, her smile snaps back into place. She grabs the hat and retakes her pose, and this time I shift closer to the window, angling myself to catch both her and the stretch of her shadow along the wall.
“Now you!”
I wave a hand, dismissing it. “No, it’s okay.”
“I’m serious.”
“Lila.”
“Eri, just do what I say and stop fussing.”
“Fine.” I set her photos on the shelf and take the hat from her, passing her the camera in exchange. Before stepping into place, I grab an elastic from the top drawer and quickly wind my loose hair into a braid. Not perfect, but it will do.
Hat. Pose.
Her laughter meets me first.
Then the click of the shutter—movement—another click.
I turn, anticipation building as she holds both photos between her fingers, fanning them while we wait. When they’ve mostly developed, she sets them beside hers on the lower shelf so we can see them together.
