Raquel Marsh Unveiled

The sound of the waves slowly faded as the car drove off the cobblestone road onto the main road. Morning light peeked through the trees, illuminating the deserted highway.

In the front seat, Matteo hummed happily to the song on the radio, his squeaky voice making Harry chuckle as he adjusted the wheel.

“Matteo, a little lower. It's not a concert,” Harry said jokingly, his eyes glancing at the little boy sitting upright in the passenger seat in a bright blue jacket.

“But I could be a rockstar if I wanted to!” Matteo grinned widely, combing his short hair with his tiny fingers to look cool. “You know that, Brody?”

Harry chuckled, replying casually, “Of course, Theo. But don't forget, rockstars still must go to school.”

I was busy braiding Matilda's hair in the back, trying to hold back my laughter at their conversation. Matilda's curly hair was always a challenge, but today, she seemed more patient—at least until she started talking again.

“Rockstar? Matteo can't be a rockstar. He can't even dance properly!” Matilda quipped, rolling her eyes.

Matteo immediately turned his head, squinting like an angry drama character. “Oh, yeah? At least I can sing! You sound like a crow!”

“I can sing better than you!” retorted Matilda as she folded her arms, almost destroying my half-finished work. “And at least I don't drop dishes every time I try to help in the kitchen.”

I stopped my movements, holding back the laughter starting to surge. “Don't move. This braid will fall apart if you keep arguing.”

“But, Ma, he started first!” she exclaimed, looking at me with a defensive expression.

“I did not start! I was just telling the truth,” Matteo exclaimed from the front, looking back defiantly. “Tilly always thinks she's better than everyone!”

“I am indeed extraordinary.” Matilda swept her forehead with her finger in a 'slay' gesture that made me laugh.

Harry finally raised his hand. “Hey, hey, calm down, you two. This is a car, not a gladiatorial arena.”

I shook my head, took a small ribbon from my bag and finished Matilda's braid.

“Listen, you guys. No one is better or worse here. But if you keep arguing, I'll make sure no one gets hot chocolate after school.”

That sentence instantly silenced both of them, although Matteo glared at his sister with narrowed eyes. Conversely, Matilda only chuckled softly before smiling a little, satisfied to have won this little round.

The car slowed as Harry took the final turn towards the twins' prep school. Colonial-style buildings with spacious playgrounds came into view, and the sounds of children's chatter and laughter could already be heard even though we were still in the distance.

I patted Matilda's shoulder gently. “It's done. You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, Ma,” she replied as she checked her braids on the small screen of her tablet. Her gaze soon shifted to Theo, and she grinned. “Look, Theo, I'm even prettier than your voice.”

“Oh, come on!” Matteo exclaimed, pulling hard on his seatbelt, ready to jump out. “I'll tell all my friends you have a voice like a duck!”

“Matteo!” I exclaimed.

But he was laughing loudly as he opened the car door, running towards his friends waiting at the gate.

Matilda just snorted before following, carrying her pink bag with the grace of a little princess.

Harry turned to me, his smile wide. “They never change, do they?”

I let out a long breath, smiling a little. “They're like two sides of a coin. Always fighting, but can't live without each other.”

He chuckled, turning off the car engine. “Like someone I know.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking at him sharply. “Who are you talking about?”

“Ah, just someone who can also be very stubborn,” he said as he opened the car door, giving me a meaningful look before stepping out.

<<<>>> 

“Welcome to this special episode,” Becca began excitedly, looking at the camera enthusiastically. “Today, I'm with an amazing designer who has changed the face of fashion with her stunning pieces. Allow me to introduce... Raquel Marsh!”

She turned to me, her wide smile now filled with pride. “Raquel, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule.”

I nodded, keeping my voice steady. “Thank you for inviting me, Becca. It's a pleasure to be here.”

Becca leaned back casually in her chair, but her eyes radiated enthusiasm. “Raquel Marsh,” she said with a smile, "I've wanted to do this interview for a long time. Everyone wants to know who exactly this amazing woman behind Éclat is."

I sipped my tea slowly, giving myself time to collect my thoughts. “Actually, Becca, I'm just someone who loves what I do. Fashion is my way of speaking. Each of my designs has a story.”

Becca leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Stories. That's interesting. Do those stories come from your own experiences?”

I nodded, letting a small corner of my lips curl. “Mostly, yes. I believe that clothes are not just about what we wear, but about what we want to convey. Sometimes, it's a feeling or power we want to show.”

“And where does that power come from?” Becca asked, her eyes probing but warm.

I looked at her for a moment, then decided to speak carefully. “From experience. From the small hurts and victories I've had along the way. Éclat is my way of channelling it all. The world isn't always kind, Becca. But that's where I learned that the greatest strength comes when we decide to persevere.”

Becca nodded slowly as if absorbing every word. “That's very deep, Raquel. Many people look at your success now and might think everything came easily. But I'm sure your journey was full of challenges. Would you care to share a little about that?”

I chuckled, trying to reduce the tension suddenly appearing in my chest. “You're right. Nothing is ever easy. As you know, the fashion world can be very competitive, even ruthless. Sometimes I feel like what I do is never enough.” I paused for a moment, staring at the tea in my cup. “Maybe because I know what I stand for. I want to prove, not to the world but to myself, that I can create something meaningful. Whenever I feel like giving up, I go back to that question: What did I really want? And the answer was always the same, I wanted to keep creating.”

Becca smiled widely, her eyes sparkling with awe. “And now, look at where you are. Éclat has become a big name in the fashion world. But I wonder, is there something you still want to accomplish?”

 “There always is. I want to keep pushing my own boundaries. Many ideas in this head are still waiting to be realized. And if possible, I want to inspire others to believe they can do the same.” I smiled slightly.

Becca looked at me with an intensity that made me almost nervous. “I know you don't like talking about yourself, but I'm sure the audience would like to know how it feels to be someone who has changed the face of modern fashion.”

I chuckled, trying to calm myself down. “I don't feel like that, to be honest. I just feel like someone who's lucky to be doing what I love. If people feel inspired by my work, that's the biggest bonus.”

 “You've always been humble, Raquel. But let's talk about something lighter. Inspiration for your designs. Does it always come from personal experience, or is there something else that sparks your creativity?”

I tilted my head, thinking for a moment. “It's not always a personal experience. Sometimes, it can come from something simple, like the music or sights I hear while walking in the park. The world is full of beauty, and I believe inspiration is everywhere if we are patient enough to look for it.”

“And what about the biggest challenge as a designer?”

“The biggest challenge....” I said slowly, ”is ensuring each design feels authentic. The world moves so fast trends come and go in an instant. But the most important thing for me is to stay true to my vision. It's not easy, but that makes it all worthwhile.”

Becca touched her chin, looking thoughtful. “You know, Raquel, I've always wondered if you ever get tired of all this pressure?”

I chuckled, leaning back. “Who doesn't? But I've learned to accept that pressure as part of the journey. I think if we get too caught up in the pressure, we'll lose the essence of what we love. So, I try to enjoy it as far as possible.”

Becca nodded, her eyes full of appreciation. “I think that's a lesson we can all take away. Lastly, Raquel, if you could give one message to an audience member who might be struggling with their dreams, what would you say?”

I looked directly into the camera for the first time, feeling heavy and light all at once. “I would say this—never stop believing in yourself. The world may not always support you, but that's enough as long as you know what you want. Be your own voice.”

Becca smiled warmly. “That was a beautiful message, Raquel. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. I'm sure this is just the beginning of the amazing things you will accomplish.”

I nodded slowly, hiding the relief that began to creep through my body. “Thank you too, Becca. It was a fun experience.”

As the camera stopped rolling, I felt like I had released some of the invisible weight. It was a small step, but to me, it was a huge leap towards freedom.