"Please, don't do this Justin, I can't go on without you, I'll have nothing left. No meaning!" Katie begged him to stay, though he was already walking out the door.
She reached out and grabbed his sleeve, tears streaking her face and ruining her makeup, "Please! Don't go.."
"Let me go, I can't deal with you anymore! Just decide!"
Two years ago Katie had run into Justin, and now the couple seem to be at their breaking point, falling apart and slowly ignoring each other. Now, with both of them struggling to keep a job, a house, school, and their relationship together is too stressful, they fight often. Will they ever be happy?
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]]