A story in which a boy's life is turned completely upside down the moment he meets an extraordinary girl. The only problem is, she's dead. *** Inspired by the song "Harsh Realm" by Widowspeak

When Rena meets Brent, he is a dream come true. He is a real gentleman, funny, caring and even her overly protective father likes him. But then, she discovers a different side of Brent - a violent side that scares her. Promising that this had been a one time slip up, she forgives him. After all, he is the love of her life. She dosn't see the signs -- the controlling, the alienation from her friends and dad, the obsession he has with her. She is like putty in his hands. Over time, she learns about the Cycle of Abuse the hard way and she even tries to break free. But in the end, she only sees one way out and it will likely cost her everything. Best Ranking: #2 in ChickLit Winner of the 1st Corner Booth contest Authors Note: This is a story about domestic violence and can be disturbing at times. Even though the people in this book are fictional, abuse at the hands of a loved one is real. It is something that can happen to any of us, even to teenagers like Rena. Please do not read this book if you find this topic disturbing. It is not designed to upset anyone but to raise awareness. Copyright©2015 by Sally Mason All rights reserved Cover by @lucyface Image "Girl"; courtesy of Rolands Lakis

"Maybe it wasn't worth it. All the laughs and good times," A tear slides down my cheek as I watch the scene unfolding before me. "Maybe he wasn't worth it," someone whispers. ****** Charlotte Parker is in her senior year of high school. She has it all, popularity, plenty of friends, good grades, a loving mother. She's dated boys of course, but she's been waiting for the right guy to walk into her life. Enter Liam Carlton, the school's new kid. Nobody knows where he transferred from, or why. Charlotte immediately takes interest in Liam, and before she knows it, she is swept off her feet. But Charlotte's fairy tale doesn't last long, and Liam is not the knight in shining armor she thought he was.

My name is Brent Parks and I have just about driven my girlfriend Rena to her limits. In a few days, she will take my life. I can't necessarily blame her because I have abused her on and off during our relationship. Before I met her, I faced my own demons - for years, I suffered violence at the hands of my father. I am not trying to make excuses but I hope you will understand that there is another side to this story, a side I would like to tell you about.... This Novella can be read independently from "Living With The Choices We Make" however, it contains references to the main story and it would be beneficial to read both for completeness. Authors Note: This is a story about child abuse and domestic violence and tells the story from the eyes of an abuser as a reminder what can happen to children who suffer violence at the hands of their parents. Please do not read this book if you find this topic disturbing. It is not designed to upset anyone but to raise awareness. Copyright@2015 by Sally Mason All rights reserved Cover by @Lucyface