The journey of a teenage spirit who finds herself trapped between the realms of the living and the dead. Patience, as she comes to call herself, wanders aimlessly through the world she once knew, haunting the places and people she once belonged to but cannot remember.
With no recollection of her past life, Patience spends her days on a repetitive loop, boarding the school bus and attending classes.
Her life takes a turn when she encounters Alexei, a new student struggling to find his place in the world. Despite his initial skepticism, as the only person able to see Patience, Alexei becomes Patience's unwitting companion, drawn into her quest to uncover the truth behind her untimely demise and find her family.
Together, Patience and Alexei navigate the intricacies of the spirit world, uncovering long-buried secrets and confronting the ghosts of their pasts. Along the way, they encounter a cast of characters both living and dead, each with their own stories to tell. However, as their bond deepens, ominous signs begin to emerge, hinting that Alexei may not be all that he claims to be.
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]]