For years Maya has been living with her dad, her mother left her, and her brother has died. Knowing all that her dad is going through, Maya tries her hardest not to give her dad a hard time. She goes to school, cooks, does homework, and studies, her daily routine all day everyday with no social life. Her friend - best friend Bailey lives the opposite life of Maya's. Never minding their differences all their time together, they are the closest they've ever been. However, One phrase, one thing, one boy, one shocking discovery changes Maya's life forever, making a crack under the ceiling she lives under. All because of one phrase everyone keeps pushing into her ear, blocking her vision.
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]]