Tilman used to see the world through a kaleidoscope. His camera, an extension of his soul, captured not just landscapes, but the whispers of emotions that danced within them. But the vibrant world he saw dulled to a monochrome ache after his mother, his guiding light, succumbed to cancer. The final blow came on the day of her funeral, when Sarah, his muse and supposed anchor, chose to chase her dreams on foreign shores. Left adrift in a sea of gray, Tilman locked away his passion, the camera a constant, silent reminder of a life that no longer felt real.
Then, a spark. A boy with eyes that held the warmth of honey in the afternoon sun stumbled upon Tilman's forgotten sketchbook. Thaddeus, with a smile that could chase away shadows, spoke of his love for photography with an infectious enthusiasm. In that moment, a flicker of curiosity dared to ignite within Tilman's jaded heart. Could there be a way to reclaim the colors he'd lost? Could the dusty camera, once a symbol of grief, become a tool for rediscovery? Perhaps, with Thaddeus by his side, Tilman could not only rekindle his passion, but find a love story more captivating than any image he'd ever captured.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]