Once upon a time, there was a lovely little girl named Smutny. She was the happiest girl on… blah blah blah. My life is not a happy one. Even though we live in a free country, I don’t feel the freedom. I only feel the pain I get from getting beaten up by my parents. Or can I even call them parents. They never wanted me, and now what am I for them? A maid treated as a doll. How do you think life is for me at school? No one approaches me; they are all scared, because they think I’m in a gang. I don’t blame them to think this. The only thing I see in my ravaged mirror in the morning is a 5.4, long black hair, big shinny green eyes, teenage girl with bruises and cuts all over her face. I have nothing attractive, I’m not that kind of rich chick who wears heels and miniskirt, the only thing I have in my closet are 2 pairs of skinny jeans, and 3 black and red shirts. But hey, at least I go to school! Black Wood High School is not that bad. The only thing that does not make it torture, boring, suicidal even, is that it’s away from this horrible, old, tiny, dark red house, where almost all the windows are scattered. Even if a blizzard mix with a hurricane is going on out there, (which wouldn’t surprise me here in Ashland, Kit) I will still go out and reach that bus stop.
Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option.
*****
Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her...
Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault.
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