514... It's the number of days left until my eighteenth birthday. It's also the number of days until I can finally escape from this prison that my mother left me in to rot three years ago.
Sixteen-year-old Josephine strives to stay off of her step-father's radar until the day she can finally be out on her own and away from his abuse. The last few years since her mom left without giving her a reason why, she has created her own little bubble to live in that has kept her safe but, unknowing about what she's going to endure in the coming months. When she ends up meeting a very candid, but adorable boy outside of school, her world is turned upside down in a matter of days, and she never saw it coming.
Hunter, the once popular small-town Golden Boy, has survived a recent tragedy that, according to his parents has tarnished the family name. Riddled with guilt, he's quickly descended into a self-destructive lifestyle to numb the pain that is FOREVER present, hoping that it will help him forget what he's lost.
Will these two broken souls be able to heal from the scars of their past, or will they let their tragic beginnings affect a future with the person they LOVE?
Disclaimer:
This story contains content that might be troubling to some readers, including but not limited to, depictions or references to death, suicide, self harm, vivid imagery, substance abuse and childhood trauma. Please be mindful of these and other possible triggers, and to seek assistance if needed.
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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.
[[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]