1. A Childhood Cut Short
Ellie had never belonged to herself—not really.
At sixteen, she already carried the weight of every unkind glance, every whisper behind her back, every look of disappointment her father shot her way. She was shy, insecure, and trapped inside a body that had been mocked more times than she could count.
In their tiny rural village, harsh words traveled fast, and compassion traveled slow.
