even when it hurts
- Reads 72
- Votes 18
- Parts 8
Ongoing16m
Last published Fri, Jun 5, 2026
**Description:**
Emery's life has always felt heavy-weighted by shadows of depression, mornings that never seem to start, and nights spent clinging to the quiet safety of her "little space." To the outside world, she's just another college girl trying to hold it together. But inside, she's fraying at the edges.
Then there's Liam. Gentle, persistent, and the only person who looks at Emery like she isn't broken. He doesn't see her as a burden-he sees her as *herself*. But letting him in means showing him the parts of her she hides: the softness, the vulnerability, the secret world she escapes to when everything feels too much.
Can Emery trust someone else with her fragile heart? Or will the weight of her silence push him away before love has the chance to grow?
A story about shadows and light, broken pieces and soft spaces-and the kind of love that doesn't try to fix you, only holds you while you heal.
All Rights Reserved
Join the largest storytelling communityGet personalized story recommendations, save your favourites to your library, and comment and vote to grow your community.
You may also like
Come Back To Me - ✓
[+18]* NOW COMPLETE* Back Series Book 2 Dylan's been a good boy all his life but there's this insurgent flame that has been burning inside him and it's waiting for the right moment to be let out. He doesn't know what or why but he knows that something is missing in his life. That shift happens when he, literally, falls into Luna. Luna's life wasn't easy and living it to the fullest is her best escape. She is a 'bad' girl that is hiding a soft heart on the inside and she catches Dylan's attention from the beginning. But Dylan has always looked up to his parents and their strong love story and the fact that he is also in love with his childhood best friend was all he could wish for. Or wasn't it? All Dylan knows is that things are bound to go down at some point... But it seems that for Luna he doesn't mind turning his world upside down.Complete
Expression {bxb}
Liam has a bad habit of closing off his emotions. His tendency to numb has led him to quite the lonesome life, but it's not so bad. Until he meets Spencer, someone who accidentally makes him feel. Spencer, timid, shy, and small, has a terrible home life. But he's faking it till he makes it. Until he meets Liam, someone who teaches him to open up. ~~~~~~ Just another bxb love story ✌🏼 I tried pacing the relationship well, idk how well that worked out 🤷♀️ This is completed but it's only ten chapters sorry ; also this is all fluff. I honestly have no ability to gauge how good this book is cause I've read it over so many times I'm numb to it.Complete
For Elise
(TW) Please make sure to take into consideration that there are many triggering topics in this story such as depression, suicide, self-harm, abuse, rape and general signs of mental unwellness. There are also NSFW scenes. It is my duty as the author to let you know. If you are okay with all that, please I'd love it if you gave my story a read. Thank you so much :3 . . . Elise is a seventeen year old girl. She has always been alone, but now, she feels more lonely than ever, after losing her beloved mother, the only person she had in this world. But, when in the depths of despair, there is always someone who comes and brightens your life when you least expect it. Elise meets a lovely cheerful girl at her summer school, named Ingrid, and they slowly grow closer and closer. While Elise is still struggling, will she keep going, as long as she has Ingrid by her side? Will she learn how to love herself and Ingrid as well? This is a tale of love and self-actualization and how you can always raise from your ashes, like a phoenix with flaming wings.
Something Between Then and Now
She was the girl who always followed the rules-the eldest daughter from a well-off family, the quiet achiever who excelled in her studies but hid her heart behind logic and restraint. An accountancy student turned successful accountant, she lived by discipline and precision, convincing everyone-including herself-that love was never her priority. But deep down, she longed to be seen, understood, and loved for who she truly was, not just for what she could achieve. He, on the other hand, was everything she wasn't-an engineering student with effortless charm, a campus heartthrob, the kind of person whose laughter filled rooms and whose warmth drew people in. They were worlds apart, yet she couldn't help but admire him from a distance throughout their college years. Until one day, with her friends' encouragement, she took the risk she never thought she would-confessing her feelings before graduation. His answer was simple, sharp, and unforgettable: "You're not my type." Years later, fate plays its quiet game. At their college reunion, she's no longer the shy, unsure girl he once knew-now a confident accountant, woman chasing her dream of opening her own café. He's an accomplished engineer, still charming, but this time, it's his turn to notice her. Old memories resurface, and unspoken words hang heavy between them. Can time and growth rewrite what once ended in rejection? Or will she finally realize that sometimes, the love you thought you needed isn't the one you were meant to find? A story of second chances, self-worth, and the quiet strength of a woman who learns that being enough for herself is where love truly begins.
INCARNATE
In a world where friendship blurs into forbidden love and forgotten memories hide painful truths, Dayana finds herself caught in a tangled web of emotion and deceit. Once just a quiet girl with a loyal best friend and a secret crush, Dayana's life begins to crumble when rumors spread through the campus rumors that she and Louise, her lifelong friend, share more than just friendship. As gossip burns through the halls, Dayana's bond with Ethan, the boy who once made her heart race, falls apart. Ethan's coldness wounds her deeper than the whispers ever could, especially when he confirms his relationship with Catherine, the girl who's always envied Dayana's quiet grace. But behind the comfort of Louise's arms lies something darker. His gentle touch hides obsession. His comfort masks a stolen truth. For Louise isn't just her friend he's the reason Dayana can't remember her past, the reason Ethan's love feels distant and strange. Years ago, he took everything from Ethan their childhood memories, their engagement, their bond and replaced it with his own false warmth. Now, even as Dayana weeps in his arms, she doesn't know she's being held by the very person who destroyed the life she was meant to have. And Ethan? He burns in silence. He knows the truth and the truth bleeds every time he looks at her. But with Dayana's heart wrapped in lies, his only choice is to protect her... even if it means letting her go. In this storm of secrets, love becomes a haunting, and every smile hides a betrayal waiting to be revealed.
Ava & Liam: What it means to stay
Ava never expected her last year of high school to start with a stranger changing everything. Quiet, unpredictable, impossible to read, Liam walks into her life like a storm she didn't see coming. He hides behind sarcasm and long sleeves, drifting through school like he's just passing through. Ava tells herself not to care. But then he looks at her. And she sees it, the pain he tries to bury, the secrets he pretends don't exist, the loneliness he carries like a shadow. When they're forced to work together for a class project, Ava slowly discovers the truth he hides from everyone else: Liam doesn't let people close. Because the last time he did... it destroyed him. What begins as awkward teamwork turns into late-night conversations, shared moments, and quiet confessions neither of them meant to say out loud. They're not supposed to fall for each other. They're not even supposed to be friends. But some connections don't care about rules. As Ava gets pulled deeper into Liam's world and the complicated, fragile life he tries so hard to manage, she realizes there's more at stake than just her heart. Because Liam's past is darker than she ever imagined. And the truth waiting for him is something that might change everything. This is a story about two people learning to trust again... about staying when it's easier to run... and about finding light in the one person you never expected. A slow-burn, emotional romance about healing, secrets, and the kind of love that makes you brave.Complete
EmPATHETICally Blind (A skinny love story)
Emilee can read emotions like books. Matt can't read at all because he's blind as fuck. Both riddled with self-hatred, anger and frustration, they somehow manage to become best friends, even though their personalities clash worse than plaid and polka-dots. (Both of which, coincidentally, Emilee loves to wear on occasion) Spontaneousness may just be what keeps them in trouble, and together. Emilee finds out how much she depends on Matt, and Matt always sort of knew he liked her. The only problem is who's going to tell who first? Secrets are spilt, friendships are broken and boy oh boy this is one fucked up story.Complete
Tangled Hearts | 18+
[BOOK 1] What they have is messy, reckless, and impossible to walk away from🦋 ************* Lily Garcia didn't come to university looking for love-especially not with someone like Finn Brooks. He's charming, infuriating, and a walking complication she doesn't need. But no matter how hard she tries to keep her distance, there's something about him that feels like gravity, pulling her closer with every encounter. Beneath his cocky exterior, she senses the fractures he tries to hide-the same ones she's been running from her entire life. Finn's been through hell, and love isn't part of the plan. He's good at keeping his walls high, locking out anyone who might get too close. But then Lily shows up, and suddenly his carefully controlled life begins to unravel. She's everything he didn't know he was missing, and that scares him more than he's willing to admit. But with their pasts threatening to destroy what they could be, and old friends trying to drive a wedge between them, trust becomes their biggest hurdle. And when a new love interest steps into the picture, everything Lily and Finn thought they were building starts to fall apart. Fighting their demons was never supposed to include each other, but now they have to decide if the risk of heartbreak is worth the reward of finally letting someone in.Complete
[+18]* NOW COMPLETE* Back Series Book 2 Dylan's been a good boy all his life but there's this insurgent flame that has been burning inside him and it's waiting for the right moment to be let out. He doesn't know what or why but he knows that something is missing in his life. That shift happens when he, literally, falls into Luna. Luna's life wasn't easy and living it to the fullest is her best escape. She is a 'bad' girl that is hiding a soft heart on the inside and she catches Dylan's attention from the beginning. But Dylan has always looked up to his parents and their strong love story and the fact that he is also in love with his childhood best friend was all he could wish for. Or wasn't it? All Dylan knows is that things are bound to go down at some point... But it seems that for Luna he doesn't mind turning his world upside down.
More detailsContent Guidelines