The Lucky One

Prologue

Iyearned to be one of those universally adored girls, whether it was day one, two or four since my last hair wash. Like the It Girl in movies—not the one who’s mean, but the lovely one with forever glossy locks and a kind heart, dedicating her days off to animal shelters. Sweet, shy and undeniably beautiful...

But that wasn’t my role. I had auditioned for it, forced myself into character and lost myself in the process. I acted as if it was only a matter of time before I could genuinely play the part. But the truth was painfully clear: I was never meant to have a happy ending like them.

I lay on the grass in the moonlight, my damp dress clinging to my skin. Despite my best efforts, I was all day-two greasy hair and imperfect teeth. My fantasy of a perfect existence had shattered, leaving fragments of dreams that felt like shards of glass beneath my fingertips.

I raised my hand toward the blinding moon, watched water drip down my wrist and onto my face. The smell of iron tinged the night air. Reddish daisies dotted the grass.

Then I realized it wasn’t water soaking my clothes. It was blood.

A ringing sensation echoed through my ears.

Puppe.

Babycakes.

Little One.

All the sweet, kind nicknames I had been called, all the people I had forced myself to be.

They were all dead... together with him.