Julia and John were off track and started to drift apart. Julia worked continuously while John spent as much time at home as possible. They had their own lives, and just lived together being both exhausted.
During the times when she was at home, they were distant with each other, and their sex life became virtually non-existent. They were both too stubborn to change their ways, and Julia could not stand it. She started to take more jobs out of the country.
They started fighting about everything, but when she was not with John, she missed him terribly, and when she was with him, the resentment returned, and she was miserable.
John was perplexed. I've longed for their relationship to return to normal, but Julia was like a wild child. He hoped that things would change and that she would warm up to their daughter in time.
As Alexi grew up things became a little easier. They had more time together again and things were very slowly turning back to normal.
The miraculous breakthrough came when Alexis started pre-school. When her first drawings were sent home, it was clear that Alexis received her mother's talent.
John put the painting on the fridge and when Julia arrived home later that night, she was ecstatic. It was the first positive words that she had ever said about their daughter.
For the first time in her life, Julia was amazed by their daughter. It was like she was seeing Alexis through different eyes. She enrolled Alexis for art classes and for the first time in her life, Julia started spending time with her daughter.
Things started to improve drastically at home and Julia spent every waking free moment teaching Alexis everything that she knew. She taught her French and soon she was fluent.
It was amazing what Alexis learned in such a short time. She was an art genius, and possibly even more talented than her mother. Things started to feel more normal again.
Julia cut down on her work and became more settled. She went from the one extreme to the other. She focused all her energy on her daughter.
The bond between Alexis and Julia grew strong. In between lessons, they went shopping a few times a week, and Julia dressed Alexis impeccably. Alexis loved the attention, and Julia could see herself at that age.
When Alexis was six years old, all the old feelings were subsided, and they were a happy family. Julia started taking local modeling jobs, and Alexis started to follow her mother on some photo shoots.
Alexis was extremely interested in what her mother was doing and dreamed of becoming a model herself one day. She enjoyed all the times when she was allowed some time in front of the cameras.
There were photos of Alexis all over the house, and the resemblance between Julia and Alexis were astonishing.
When one of the photographers suggested to use Alexis for the winter shoot Alexis was ecstatic.
Julia was not sure how John would react and told her that they would discuss it at home. Alexis was furious at her mother.
Things were great at home, and Julia wanted to discuss the option with John before making any radical decisions.
Alexis was still furious at her mother and slammed the door when they arrived home. They shouted at each other in French and Alexis did not want to be in the same room as her mother. John had no idea what was going on.
John poured some wine and tried to make sense of what was going on. Julia explained her views to him, but he did not agree.
Julia wanted to use her natural talent, and not live the life she had, but John thought otherwise. He did not see any harm in letting Alexis did the photo shoot, but Julia knew that if it started, it was never going to end.
That was the first of many fights. Julia knew how exhausting this life could be and she did not want her daughter exposed to the world at such a young age, but Alexis got what she wanted. John allowed her to take the photo shoot, and then another and another.
For months Julia and John were fighting more than talking, but John gave in every time. When Alexis were offered a three-month contract for some photo shoots in Paris, she nearly lost it. She knew there was no turning back, and Alexis was lost to the world just as she was.
