Sylvie, a first-year college student at a prestigious university, stumbles upon an old, dusty journal hidden in the library stacks. The journal, titled "Dear World," contains a series of letters written by a mysterious student who attended the same university decades ago. Each letter in the journal is addressed to "Dear World," and as Sylvie reads through them, she discovers they hold the power to alter reality in small but significant ways.
Intrigued yet skeptical, Sylvie decides to experiment with the letters, using them to navigate the challenges of her new college life: from acing exams she didn't study for, to improving her social life, and even attempting to mend a broken relationship with her estranged sister. However, with each wish fulfilled, Sylvie begins to notice subtle changes not only in her own life but also in the lives of those around her. She starts questioning the consequences of altering reality and whether the journal's power is a gift or a curse.
As Sylvie delves deeper into the mystery of the "Dear World" journal, she uncovers secrets about the original author's life and their ultimate fate. She learns that the journal's power is tied to a tragic event in the university's history, and using it carelessly could have devastating consequences for herself and everyone she cares about.
When Jane Madarang's neighbor Natalie kills herself and leaves behind cryptic instructions, it's up to Jane and her classmates to unearth deadly secrets.
*****
Natalie Driscoll is dead.
She threw herself out a window and left her neighbor Jane to unravel their town's darkest secrets. Following Natalie's instructions leads Jane to three other high school students who all have something to hide. The four of them must carry out Natalie's final errand while solving the mysteries written in her diary. But the secrets they unearth may be far more dangerous than what they ever imagined.
Content and/or trigger warning: This story contains scenes of suicide, violence and murder that may be triggering for some readers.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]