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Seventeen Candles

Author: K. Lyn Leigh
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-16 18:36:47

The warm glow of the late afternoon sun slipped softly through the windows of Nicole’s house as I stepped inside, my heart fluttering with anticipation. It was my seventeenth birthday—May 14th—a day I had quietly hoped would feel as special as it did strange growing up. But tonight felt different. Tonight felt like a turning point.

Nicole’s mom, Alice, greeted me at the door with a bright smile and a knowing glance. “Happy birthday, Lila! Nicole told me you’d be spending the night, and I wanted to say you’re always welcome here.” Her easy warmth made me feel instantly at home.

Nicole appeared from the kitchen, her usual bright grin lighting up her face. “You ready for a night to remember?” she teased, nudging me gently. I laughed nervously and nodded, still clutching my backpack. The house smelled like vanilla and cinnamon from a candle Alice had lit, soft music playing quietly in the background.

I was still settling in when Anthony arrived, his familiar grin broad and eyes sparkling
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  • Before We Broke   A Fresh Start

    The decision had been brewing in Lila’s mind for days, a knot of anxiety twisting tighter each time her phone buzzed. At first, she thought she could ignore it—block the number, delete the messages, pretend none of it was happening. But pretending didn’t stop the way her hands shook when her screen lit up, or how her stomach dropped at the sight of another photo she hadn’t consented to be taken. It didn’t stop the fear that whoever was behind it was watching her even now, cataloguing her life like a series of stolen moments.So on a cool Thursday morning, when the rest of the world felt caught in the slow hum of early spring, Lila marched herself into her phone carrier’s store.She sat in the plastic chair across from a clerk who looked hardly older than her, fingers flying across a keyboard as he pulled up her account. “So you’re wanting to change your number completely?” he asked, voice flat with the practiced tone of someone who’d asked the question a hundred ti

  • Before We Broke   Shadowed Messages

    The sunlight filtering through Lila’s blinds didn’t feel warm today—it felt intrusive. Every beam seemed to spotlight the unease curling in her chest, reminding her that no matter how much she tried to pretend, the unknown sender was still out there, still watching, still whispering into her life through texts and images. She sat cross-legged on her bed, phone in hand, scrolling through the latest barrage of messages that had come overnight. Each ping made her flinch.Nicole and Mae had insisted she bring the phone over so they could examine it together. If Terra really was behind this, they needed a strategy, and Lila wasn’t going to be the only one on edge anymore.By mid-morning, Lila had texted her friends to come over. When the doorbell rang, she opened it to find Nicole with a backpack slung over one shoulder and Mae holding a laptop like it was a weapon.“Morning,” Nicole said, her tone a mixture of teasing and seriousness. “You’ve got that haunted

  • Before We Broke   Splintered Trust

    Lila couldn’t hear the world around her. The music from her phone, the hum of the ceiling fan, even the faint traffic outside her window—all of it faded beneath the roar in her chest. Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone, the screen lighting up with the last unanswered message she’d fired off at the anonymous number.Who are you? Why are you doing this? Why him? Why me?The reply had come in seconds, like whoever was on the other side was waiting, breathing down her neck through invisible wires.You’ll see. He’s not who you think he is. And I’ll prove it.And then, as if to twist the knife, the photo.Her and Anthony. From two nights ago, walking down the block after leaving Nicole’s house. She hadn’t even noticed anyone near them, let alone close enough to snap a picture. But there they were—her head tilted toward Anthony, his hand brushing hers, both of them caught in a moment that had felt so safe.Now it was ruined.

  • Before We Broke   Shattered Lines

    Lila couldn’t hear the world around her. The music from her phone, the hum of the ceiling fan, even the faint traffic outside her window—all of it faded beneath the roar in her chest. Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone, the screen lighting up with the last unanswered message she’d fired off at the anonymous number.Who are you? Why are you doing this? Why him? Why me?The reply had come in seconds, like whoever was on the other side was waiting, breathing down her neck through invisible wires.You’ll see. He’s not who you think he is. And I’ll prove it.And then, as if to twist the knife, the photo.Her and Anthony. From two nights ago, walking down the block after leaving Nicole’s house. She hadn’t even noticed anyone near them, let alone close enough to snap a picture. But there they were—her head tilted toward Anthony, his hand brushing hers, both of them caught in a moment that had felt so safe.Now it was ruined.

  • Before We Broke   Fractures in the Silence

    The night pressed in heavy, the kind that swallowed and wrapped the world in a suffocating stillness. Lila sat cross-legged on her bed, the pale glow of her phone the only light in the room. It illuminated her face like a cruel spotlight, highlighting the tension etched into her jaw, the tear-gloss sheen in her eyes.Her screen still showed the last message, waiting for her acknowledgment like a taunt.Does he tell you he loves you? Or does he just say it because you need to hear it?She hated how the words sank under her skin, how they poisoned the very place Anthony’s voice used to soothe her. She wanted to delete them, block the number, pretend this had never crawled into her world. But she couldn’t. She never could. Every time she silenced the phone, every time she told herself she was done, the messages found their way back to her like a shadow she couldn’t outrun.Tonight, though, she was done being passive. Tonight, she couldn’t shove it aside anymore. Somethi

  • Before We Broke   Splintering Trust

    The glow of Lila’s phone felt like fire against her palm. Another message had arrived—no name, no picture, just the same number that had haunted her for weeks.“He’ll never love you the way you think. He belongs to me.”She squeezed her eyes shut, every word carving deeper into the insecurities she thought Anthony’s presence had healed. She should have ignored it. She’d promised herself she would. But her thumb hovered over the keyboard like it had a mind of its own.Who are you? What do you want from me? she typed, heart slamming in her chest.The reply came instantly.“I want what’s mine.”Her breath caught. Fingers trembling, she typed again. You don’t even know me. Why are you sending me this?This time, instead of words, an image arrived. Her own face, taken from across the street outside her apartment. She was unlocking her car, wearing the same denim jacket she’d had on earlier that week. Her blood ran cold.The phone nearly slipped from her gr

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