A Hundred Sunlit Days

Essence, a sixteen-year-old with an anxiety disorder, has spent her life in the quiet suburbs of Connecticut. Sheltered and homeschooled, and yet she finds comfort in her LGBT+-friendly church and her close-knit world. A self-proclaimed try-anything-once kind of girl, she dislikes curse words, treasures her dog like a human, and counts an older woman as her best friend. Despite her innocence, Essence carries a quiet strength that belies her upbringing.

Blair, also sixteen, lives in the same town but lives a very different life. Attending a prestigious prep school, she spends most of her time with her lifelong friend group to escape the suffocating expectations of her status-driven parents. Blair's world is tinged with pain as she wrestles with her family's refusal to acknowledge her older brother or the tragic truth behind his death.

How will Blair confront the hidden reality of her brother's past? Can she find peace in herself? And as Essence navigates sudden changes in her sheltered life, will their paths lead to self-discovery, healing, and perhaps even love?

Warning: Sensitive Topics Ahead
This story contains light mentions of homophobia, suicide, racism, mental health struggles, drug use, and mental abuse. If these topics may be triggering, please proceed with caution or refrain from reading.