I'm trapped in this hellhole, surrounded by fake smiles and judging eyes. My parents' toxic relationship is a never-ending nightmare. Their screams and shattered promises echo through my mind.
At 12, I thought love was a fairy tale. But my reality was different. Mum and Dad's relationship was a mess. I never saw love, only arguments and pain.
That's when I started searching for it elsewhere. I wanted to know what it feels like to be loved, to be cherished. I craved the warmth and security I never got from home.
Peer pressure suffocated me. Friends whispered, "You're not cool if you don't have a boyfriend." So I gave in.
Jake, 16 and "perfect," messaged me. His sweet words seduced me. He said I was beautiful, that he loved me. I thought he'd save me from this chaos.
But he wanted more. More than I was willing to give.
"I love you, Amanda," he'd say.
"No, you don't," I'd think.
YOU ARE READING
SHATTERED INNOCENCE
RomanceBook Description: In this poignant and thought-provoking novel, 18-year-old Amanda's life is turned upside down when she falls prey to the charms of Jake, a charismatic and manipulative boyfriend. As their toxic relationship unfolds, Amanda's innoce...
