Forced Maturity

Sixteen-year-old Nolan Mitchell carries the weight of experiences that would break most adults. Autistic and introspective, he's spent years navigating a world that never quite fit him right - bullied at school for his quirks, abused at home by a stepfather who saw his differences as weaknesses to exploit. Writing became his sanctuary, creating characters and worlds where he had control, where pain could be transformed into purpose.

Now living safely with his supportive father, Nolan is finally learning what it means to be protected rather than protecting himself. But the scars run deep. As he struggles with depression and the aftermath of a painful breakup with his first love, he leans heavily on his one true friend, Bailey Donnelly - the only person who's been patient enough to understand his quirks while being brave enough to call him out when he needs it.

Beginning intensive group therapy as a last attempt to reclaim some semblance of a normal teenage life, Nolan discovers that survival has given him an unexpected gift: the ability to see people's pain beneath their cruelty, and the strength to choose forgiveness over revenge. When an unexpected encounter with his abusive stepfather puts this hard-won wisdom to the ultimate test, Nolan must decide what kind of man his forced maturity has made him.

A raw, honest exploration of trauma, healing, and the complicated journey from victim to survivor.