Maybe it's because she was born like this, or maybe because she learned to be like this, she's aberrant. Is it a mutation? Is it a self defense mechanism? The world may never know how a disturbed mind works, because it simply doesn't let intruders in.
Unaccepted, considered an abomination, a mistake, 'something went wrong'. People fear what they don't understand. They especially fear the things that look so normal, so humane, but at the same time are not; perhaps misshapen, or maybe misbehaving. Either or, neither nor; they'll want to eliminate the threat, because they don't want to fear that what this abomination is might as well be them. Infect them. Destroy them. Because they're no different than us, but they are alien. Absurd. Impossible.
But never mind. We turn a blind eye to the aberration. We go about our regular life, drinking regular coffee, talking to regular people.
Pretending that the irregular doesn't exist.
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.
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