mar1_l1ng
Seventh grade started too early, and Ling was already late to herself. At St. Aurora Academy, everyone seemed to know how to belong, but she didn't. She draws, writes songs no one hears, and scribbles novels full of feelings she can't say out loud.
Then Grace appeared-lazy, loud, impossible to ignore. Suddenly, the halls didn't feel so empty. Ling's heart ached in ways she didn't know how to name. She comforted her, teased her, smiled with her-and secretly fought jealousy, selfish thoughts, and the parts of herself she hated.
But Ling isn't always alone.
Sometimes, Leen shows up.
She looks like Ling-almost exactly like her-but sharper, darker, and fearless in ways Ling isn't. Leen whispers the things Ling doesn't want to admit: the jealousy, the selfishness, the anger. She laughs when Ling falters and cheers when Ling does something reckless. She encourages Ling to push limits, to break rules, to act on feelings that should stay hidden.
Leen doesn't care about consequences. She doesn't care about anyone but herself-and in a way, she is Ling, too. The parts Ling keeps locked away. The thoughts she sketches in margins, sings in secret, and writes in novels no one reads.
When Ling is alone, Leen is there-sometimes comforting, sometimes cruel, always honest in the ways Ling can't be. And Ling has to decide: listen to her... or keep pretending the darkness doesn't exist.
This is a story about messy friendships, first love, quiet betrayals, and the slow, painful, beautiful way a girl learns to understand herself... while loving someone else.