I was a peculiar child, out on my own by the outskirts of the playground - grabbing every opportunity to simply escape from the chaotic everything. The kids my age were far too immature for me, they were unaware of the horrors reality withdraws. So rather than fighting to "fit in" I chose to find comfort in being alone.
That was until, James.
He too was scarred and wanted to consider the world unreal. We grew fond of each other and held on to the little light that life apparently has to offer, friendship.
A light that became darkness much to soon. He left. No goodbye, no warning, nothing. The world we created together shattered, and so did I.
Apart, I turned into someone else. All we ever did was try to save each other but the broken can't be fixed without its cure.
I am not the same. I now have more scars. My parents got divorced and along the way of coping with life I got into sex, drugs and alcohol. As of now, I live alone in some empty mansion.
And on the verge of gripping for life, he comes back, just as he left, without warning.
I hate him.
I hate that he was the only one I had.
I hate myself, for being nothing without him.
I hate that though it's been 7 years a part of me can't help but whisper, I'm glad you came.
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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