Baby Don't Cut | Book One

In the shadows of high school hallways and late-night rooftops, two fractured souls find each other.

Haru Liang is quiet, strange, and invisible-just the way he likes it. He doesn't speak unless necessary, hides his sketchbooks beneath layers of worn-out sweaters, and always wears the boys' uniform to cover what shouldn't be seen. Everyone thinks he's just another weird, quiet boy. No one asks why he limps some days. No one notices how deep his silences go.

Caleb Everett is the kid who never quite smiles. Since his mom died, he's been raising his little sister Hana, managing the weight of grief and a house that stopped feeling like home. With a distant father and a stepmother who tries too hard or not enough, Caleb finds peace in late-night walks, quiet places, and the pages of books no one else reads.

They weren't supposed to notice each other. But they do.

A shared glance. A moment of kindness. And suddenly, a bond forms-fragile and trembling, but impossible to ignore. As Caleb is drawn deeper into Haru's hidden world, he begins to see what others don't: the bruises, the silences, the pain that doesn't bleed. And Haru-who has never trusted anyone-starts to hope that maybe, just maybe, he doesn't have to go through this alone.

But trauma isn't patient. Healing isn't linear. And sometimes, love shows up when you feel the least deserving of it.

A slow-burn story of pain, protection, and the kind of love that doesn't fix you-but chooses to stay.

Content Warnings (CW):

- Depictions of physical abuse
- Self-harm (cutting)
- Suicidal ideation
- Mental health struggles (PTSD, depression)
- Bullying (emotional and physical)
- Grief and loss (parental death)
- Brief mentions of disordered eating
- Gender identity confusion/perception
- Blood, bruises, and emotional breakdowns

This book explores heavy and emotionally intense themes. Reader discretion is advised. However, it also includes moments of softness, safety, healing, and hope.