Learning to live

"You don't have to do this!" Theo yelled at me loudly over the whipping wind, but his voice only carried over to me like a whisper.

I walked slowly to edge of the cliff with hands shaking, and feet trembling. I'll admit it, I was scared-- terrified actually. The fear was greater than anything I had felt in my entire life. My toes balanced over the far drop below.

I knew if I didn't do this I would never go anywhere. I'd stay stuck in the same terrible place I always was, and never move on.

"Alison, you gotta talk to me," Theo's voice cut in again.

I let high noon sun warm my skin. The wind moved through my hair. Birds flew overhead and the world kept moving as if this wasn't the most surreal moment I had ever experienced. I felt my pulse rage on and my breath catch in my throat.

I jumped.

•
•
Alison Harper lives a rough lifestyle. With a mentally and physically ill mother, a mentally unstable sister, and a non-existent father, Alison is the only one who classifies as "normal" in her family. Ever since she was young, taking care of her family became part of the game.

Now being a sophomore in highschool, she thinks she's found her groove, until a tragedy strikes her family. Alison is very quickly moved away, where more curve balls are thrown; new brothers, new school, new friends, new life

Brought into all of this, Alison has a better chance at a better future, but only if she can change her old habits and learn to live her own life.

***TALKS ABOUT SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AND MAY INVOLVE GRAPHIC IMAGERY. IF YOU MAY BE TRIGGERED BY ANY OF THESE THINGS, THIS IS YOUR WARNING. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION****