Leonard often spoke of Lila, his first love from the ’70s, showing off a Polaroid that captured their youthful days.
His family had heard the stories countless times. But one evening, as he nostalgically shared the story with his daughter, Clara, she leaned in closer, her eyes widening in shock.
“Dad,” she murmured, “there’s something in this picture that’s eerily familiar…”
What did she see?
Leonard had been confused about this statement. He had told Clara about Lila many times before; maybe that had been the reason why she thought she was familiar.
His brow furrowed, though, as this was the first time he had ever unboxed the picture. How would Clara recognize his high school sweetheart if he had never shown her a picture?
Unraveling a story
“What do you mean, honey? I have never shown you this picture before,” Leonard said. Clara looked puzzled, unable to get out a word.
She was sure she recognized the woman! She told her father this, who in turn looked confused. However, when the two of them took a closer look at a whole new story, neither of them suddenly started to unravel.
So many questions…
There were details in the certain picture that Leonard had always missed but now wished he didn’t. He needed to find some answers…
Where was Lila now? Would he be able to find her? And most importantly, what had Clara spotted that Leonard had missed?
Leonard’s a widower
Leonard had lost his wife, Kate, over five years ago. Through his grief, he would often lose himself in his memories.
To remind himself of the warmth love had brought him, he would often reminisce about old love stories of him or his passed-on wife to show to his daughter, Clara, and himself that love didn’t only give heartache.
Needing to support him
Clara, Leonard’s 25-year-old daughter, was always compassionate and understanding towards her grieving father.
Though the grief was still there for her as well, she understood that her father had lost her life partner. She needed to support him!
She knew what would cheer him up for sure; he loved the feeling of nostalgia, and what would be better than going back in time through photos?
Grabbing boxes from the attic
They had grabbed boxes from the attic, most of them covered by a thick layer of dust, before taking them back down.
They were filled with old photo books. Throughout the entirety of his life, the one consistent thing he did was make pictures and put them in one of those books.
He loved having visualization when reminiscing about the past.
Photo albums
Clara and Leonard had started with the last photo album. They wanted to go back in time gradually. Talk about Clara’s childhood and how Leonard and his wife used to fight about how to raise her.
How good of a job they had done, regardless of the difficulties they faced in their marriage.
Walk down memory lane
They had been talking for hours. Clara retold her favorite memories of her past, and Leonard gave context to pictures that she was too young to remember.
It wasn’t until the photo albums with her in it ended that she started to be silent and listen to her father’s tales of the past.
The way he talked about his life was like a true storyteller.
Dad’s first love…
They were going back into the 90’s, the 80’s, and even the 70’s. Clara was always interested in understanding who her father used to be before meeting his mother.
She knew a certain story was coming but didn’t mind waiting. It was a woman who had bewitched him when he was younger. Regardless of her mother, Clara loved hearing that story…
The Polaroid picture fell
They had opened a photo album, and the Polaroid picture had fallen out. Both of them had been intently staring at it as it slowly hit the ground.
Clara’s brows furrowed, a look of recognition going over her face. This wasn’t the first time she had seen this woman, of that she was sure, but she was unsure from where she recognized her…
Leonard’s first love
Unaware of his daughter’s turmoil, Leonard sighed nearly dreamily when he saw Lila. He gently picked up the Polaroid photo. “
This was Lila, the first girl, nay, woman I ever loved.” It hadn’t been a long relationship, but it had been one for the ages.
He had talked about Lila often, but this was the first time Clara could put a face to the name.
How should she tell him?
Leonard looked towards the side to see his daughter, but her face didn’t quite have the expression he had expected.
Instead, Clara wore one of shock as her eyes roamed over the photo. She was certain she had seen this woman before. This definitely was no stranger.
“Dad,” She said before continuing. She didn’t know how to tell him this.
Something familiar…
“There is something in this picture that is eerily familiar…” Clara continued. It was, in turn, Leonard’s time to look confused now.
He hadn’t seen Lila in many years, maybe even decades already. How had his daughter seen her, or anything other than that before? “
What do you mean, Clara? This picture is over 45 years old!”
Pointing something out
“I don’t know that. She is just eerie familiar, especially when you look at that,” Clara pointed at something in the picture.
Though Leonard was already confused as Clara recognizing her was something strange. He didn’t think that he had ever shown Clara a picture of his first love. This could only mean that it must mean something different…
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