novellacinderella
- Reads 175
- Votes 50
- Parts 30
Juniper and Abel, high school sweethearts now in their early twenties, find their once idyllic relationship strained. Abel's erratic behavior-marked by mood swings and uncharacteristic cruelty-leaves Juniper bewildered and desperate to understand what's wrong. Despite her suspicions that Abel might be unfaithful, Juniper remains determined to support him.
Unbeknownst to Juniper, Abel is grappling with a personal battle: his struggle to quit drinking. His secrecy about his efforts and the reasons behind them only fuels Juniper's insecurities. Abel's well-intentioned attempts to protect Juniper by keeping his struggles hidden backfire, creating a chasm between them.
As both Juniper and Abel allow external influences and their own doubts to cloud their judgment, their relationship teeters on the brink. When Abel finally decides to come clean, he realizes too late that his silence has caused irreparable damage. In a misguided effort to do what he believes is best for Juniper, Abel makes a decision that he will come to regret as the biggest mistake of his life.