“Soon I'll be thinner than all of you, she swore to herself. And then I'll be the winner. The thinner is the winner.”
― Steven Levenkron, The Best Little Girl in the World
---
Ginnie Shepherd is overweight. And overweight is bad, as she's been told countless times by her classmates, her nutritionists, her doctors, and even her own family.
After finally graduating high-school and leaving behind the years of torment and bullying, Ginnie thinks she can finally catch a break. She has "great" plans for the summer; to better herself through drastic starvation.
But then, by the lucky hand of fate, Ginnie finds herself seeking out a job, one where she can at least escape her family by daylight. Eventually, Ginnie finds relief in caring for a six year old girl and her eccentric family, who are there to do everything but judge her.
Ginnie thinks she's finally found her happiness, just when the six year-old's brother, bystander, the bullies' protector, the high-school coward shows up on the front steps with a whole new perspective. He claims to be sorry, to have changed.
But Ginnie knows better. She won't let anyone treat her like that again and she's determined to give that bystander a taste of what he deserves. Revenge will either be her downfall, or her saving grace.
What goes around comes around, after all.
---
d e d i c a t i o n:
This book is for the bystanders, the ones who stray at the sidelines.
This is for everyone who's only watched someone get hurt, emotionally or physically. It's the helplessness you feel, the initial hesitation in taking the first leap.
It's difficult, terrifying even. I understand, and I've been there. I just want you guys to know you aren't alone. And I promise you, even the slightest action can change someone's life.
xx
copyright 2015 Ⓒ xoasha
