"𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟." ˖ ݁♬⋆˚𝄞‧₊ ♪˚⊹ 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙩 is a symphony of hollow bones and piano chords, starving herself until there's nothing left to break. She wants 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙮 with a desperation that makes her lungs ache, but she's terrified of the crash. She sees the boy drowning in a bottle and the hollow warmth of too many girls. To Katie, loving a drunk feels like a slow way to die, and she's already halfway there. So, she runs straight into the arms of 𝙃𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙞𝙚 𝘽𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙨, Patrick's best friend. Hugh is safe but shallow; he likes her company and the distraction, however his heart doesn't beat for her. But 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 is a storm that no amount of alcohol can drown out. He's a wreck of nicotine and cheap whiskey, forced to watch the girl he'd burn the world for settle for a boy who doesn't even know she's shattering. He loves Hugh like a brother, but he loves Katie with his entire being. Every time he sees them together, it's a fresh cut to a soul that's already scarred over. He hides his shaking hands in his pockets and his heart behind meaningless flings, too cowardly to admit that his fear of commitment is just a fear of being the reason she finally breaks. He's the boy who wants her but can't reach her, trapped in a silence where the only thing more addictive than the drink is the sight of her loving someone else. It's the devastating math of three hearts that don't add up: a girl too scared to be loved, a boy too drunk to be chosen, and a friend caught in the middle who doesn't realize he's holding the only thing that could save them both. ✮ Timeline: 2003-2007