Dark haired guy with light eyes are the reason she struggles to stay alive.

The hardest thing in the world is taking a secret to the grave when you're dying to tell it to someone, especially if the boy you love is begging to understand. ~*~*~ The last thing Evelyn thought she needed was a tutor. Her hands were full taking care of her two younger siblings, working two jobs after school, and struggling to keep their house in shape after her mother's death and her father's abrupt departure. Evidently, though, her counselor had other plans. Enter Cameron. Determined to bring Evelyn's grades up, he schedules her for a series of after-school tutoring sessions, which Evelyn attends all while trying to keep her brutal past hidden from her tutor. But as Evelyn gets pulled into Cameron's whirlwind world and friendship turns to more, she begins to wonder if there isn't a way out of the mess she's in--and if she has find it all on her own.

[Highest rank so far: #46 in short story] "It didn't matter that I was getting all A's on my report card. It didn't matter that I could read a book in less than two days. It didn't matter that I could perfect oil painting techniques. It didn't matter that I had a healthy diet and tried my best to exercise. None of it mattered. Simply because I had one unwanted characteristic called fat." *** This is one girl's story. From her point of view. No exaggerations, no extra, no lies, no holding back this time. When she looks in the mirror she sees nothing but her failure. She hears nothing but the ear shattering sound of opinions from everyone. Everything is targeted to her. Everything is wrong with her. WARNING: This story contains a view of the mind of one insecure female. This focuses on body image and shaming and touches upon topics of eating disorders. (cover picture is not mine, but belongs to the respective owner.)

"Aloo--" "I'm hungry." "Problem solved! We deliver donuts, where do you want that?" "I don't. I'm craving McNuggets." "..." "And you." #14 in Dialogue (13 July, 2018) #68 IN SHORT STORY - 30/4/2017

a rebel. a label. a girl.

"Why do you do this to yourself? You have everything: a father who loves you, friends, money, activities. I want to know why you threw it all away." Why? You want to know why? Step into a tanning booth and fry yourself for two or three days. After your skin bubbles and peels off, roll in coarse salt, then pull on long underwear woven from spun glass and razor wire. Over that goes your regular clothes, as long as they're tight. Smoke gunpowder and go to school to jump through hoops, sit up and beg, and roll over on command. Listen to the whispers that curl into your head at night, calling you ugly and fat and stupid and bitch and whore and worst of all "a disappointment." Puke and starve and cut and drink because you don't want to feel any of this. Puke and starve and cut and drink because you need an anesthetic and it works. For a while. But then the anesthetic turns into poison and by then it's too late because you're mainlining it now, straight into your soul. It is rotting you and you can't stop. Look in the mirror and find a ghost. hear every heartbeat scream that everysinglething is wrong with you. "Why?" is the wrong question. Ask "Why not?" **TRIGGER WARNING** This story contains the main character self harming herself, starving herself/anorexia, blood, depression, and dark thoughts.

Everly Winter hasn't had a day without responsibility in years. Between dealing with her newly divorced parents and watching out for a suicidal best friend, Everly never has time for herself. But then Jace Wasson comes along, self-contained and enigmatic. He doesn't give Everly the best first impression, but the two of them just can't seem to stay away from each other. Everly finds herself falling- falling in love with someone who she never expected to like the slightest bit.

❝If I'm going to write a book it will be about you − about your flaws − because when I first fell in love with you it was because of your flaws.❞ All rights reserved @ o p t i c a l i t y | 2017

the scribbled down thoughts of a girl who's utterly lost. a girl who's begging for anyone to save her, but really it's a certain someone she's wishing for.

A girl. A train. A delay. [Cover made by rigor_samsa]