Daniella Saunders

The biting cold of the car mirrors the chill in your heart. Seventeen years old, and life has already delivered a string of disappointments. Divorce, a neglectful father, and a cheating boyfriend – the hits keep coming.

Leaning against the fogged window of your dad’s BMW, you pull your jacket tighter, the heater doing little to warm you. Your dad’s strained voice breaks the silence, another apology you’re not ready to hear. You turn up your music, drowning him out, counting down the minutes until you reach your mother’s house.

Moving in with her was your father’s concession to his new wife, Sandra, a woman you despise. Her cruel words echo in your mind, a reminder of the life you’re leaving behind. Your mother, a famous fashion designer, travels constantly but has always supported your dream of opening a bakery, unlike your father who pushed for you to be a surgeon.

A text message from Chase flashes on your phone – another apology, another reminder of his betrayal with your best friend, Ali. The memory of walking in on them sends a fresh pang of pain through your chest. You were happy once, believing in love and living life to the fullest. Now, you just want to hide away. But you’re strong, aren’t you? You have to be.