Prologue

The sun was shining, and the birds were singing, but she hated it. Why should everyone else be happy? People strolled along the sidewalk, smiling as if nothing could ruin their day. Elise glared at them, but they didn’t even seem to notice.

Her world had fallen apart. It crumbled beneath her feet and left her with nothing but bitterness.

She slumped down on a wooden park bench and crossed her arms like a stubborn child. Her dark brown eyes held an intensity. If anyone so much as looked at her, they would flash menacingly, supposedly saying “Don’t mess with me.”

Elise soon tired of giving people dirty looks so she closed her eyes and went to her one place of comfort.