"Good morning sunshine, I hope that you're well,
Honey I missed you, last night when night fell.
You should know, sunshine, you brighten my day,
The world gets so dark, love, when you go away.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder,
But I can't help but wonder;
If the darkness came tomorrow,
Could I keep you in my mind?
When you rise and then we follow.
Just one more chance,
To stand in your light.
Good morning sunshine, I'm glad you're still here,
My darling it's hard when my friends can't be near.
Till I can be there to show them I'm true,
I hope what they're seeing is as bright as you.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder,
But I can't help but wonder;
If the darkness came tomorrow,
Could I keep you in my mind?
When you rise and then we follow..."
Ella is falling apart trying to live a "perfect" high school life. Then she meets Ren, who can see past her scars. Suddenly perfection isn't her only option.
*****
Ella Volkov is a gifted music student, but she's depressed and starting to crack under the pressure of high school. Her overbearing father won't even let her choose what instrument she plays. Then she finds herself alone at a party with Ren, her best friend's crush. She'd always thought he was rude, but after that night he's all Ella can think about. Now she's trapped. If Ella dates Ren, it will ruin her friendship with Jenny. But if she stays true to Jenny, she's losing the one person who can see past her scars. It's up to Ella to decide if she will forge her own path, or stay in the "perfect" box designed for her...
Content and/or Trigger Warning: depression, anxiety, self-harm, violence, sexual assault.
[[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]