“But in the pit of my stomach, at the core of my being, I’m still holding onto ghosts. And I fear they’ll haunt me until the end of my days.”

What if one day, you woke up and realized you got everything you ever wanted…but the way you got it wasn’t something you’d wish on anyone, and none of those things were what you actually needed?

I thought my small town was a cage from which I’d give anything to break free.

But I didn’t realize what I was asking for. And I didn’t know that once I left, I’d never be able to go back.

Is there a word that means the opposite of the stars aligning? Would it still be called fate?

One person, one split-second decision, one miscalculation can alter the entire trajectory of space and time for the rest of one’s existence. Even if that person isn’t you, and those decisions aren’t your own.

And I would know. That’s what happened to me.



This prequel to The Pieces We Leave Behind is Amelia's story. I recommend reading TPWLB prior to this one, but if you want to read them in chronological order, no one can stop you. However, it is not meant to be read as a standalone. Please check trigger warnings before reading.