6MonthsofStoriesbyMe
It had been a year since Mallory Alvarez had finally escaped the suffocating grip of Vale Darkwood's toxic love. The memory of his manipulative words, the constant barrage of insecurities he'd instilled in her, still lingered like a phantom limb. Vale, the boy who'd followed her to college only to drop out a month later and run off with a girl who embodied everything Mallory wasn't - blonde, blue-eyed, and impossibly thin - had left a gaping wound in her soul. Mallory had been diligently rebuilding herself since then, focusing on her education and mental health. The college library had become her sanctuary, a place where she could immerse herself in the world of books and escape the echoes of Vale's venomous whispers. One afternoon, while settling into her usual spot, she noticed a quiet guy studying at the desk in front of her. He was undeniably cute, with a soft smile playing on his lips as he focused intently on his textbook. The thought of dating had been a foreign concept for Mallory, but seeing this stranger, this kind-faced boy, stirred something within her. Maybe, just maybe, after a year of healing and self-discovery, she was ready to risk opening her heart again. She found herself drawn to him, captivated by his quiet intensity, and the idea of asking him out, a bold act for someone who'd spent a year trying to forget the sting of rejection, began to bloom in her heart. A flicker of hope, a whisper of possibility, danced on the edge of her hesitation.
Hope you all enjoy this new one by me! (Some character credit goes out to my younger sister and some characters are inspired by characters from Aphmau's Mystreet series on YouTube)