Emma wasn't like the other girls at her school. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, she was the eldest daughter in a humble family. Her father, Michael, was a hardworking car driver, dedicated to giving his children the best opportunities. He worked long hours for a private company, rarely taking a break, just to ensure Emma, and her younger sister Lily and brother Sam, had what they needed to succeed.

The family didn't have much money, but what they lacked in wealth, they made up for with love and determination. Emma admired her father's unwavering commitment, but she couldn't help feeling like she was meant for something bigger than the life she led.

Her school, however, was a different world. The children there came from families of wealth and privilege, and Emma often felt like she didn't belong. While other students flaunted their designer bags and new cars, Emma was happy with her modest life. She spent most of her days alone in the corner of the cafeteria, away from the laughter and chatter that surrounded her peers.

But then Lily came into her life. Their friendship was a breath of fresh air, a source of comfort in Emma's otherwise lonely world. They were inseparable, and for a while, Emma felt like she finally belonged.

However, as time passed, Ava entered the scene. Ava was charismatic, popular, and slowly but surely, she stole Lily's attention. Emma found herself on the outside once again, the third wheel in a friendship she had once cherished. Despite her efforts to keep the bond intact, the space between the three of them grew. Eventually, Emma became a target for bullying—small things at first, like whispered comments and giggles behind her back, but soon, it turned into something worse.

She couldn't understand what had changed. Why had she gone from being Lily's best friend to someone they barely noticed? Emma's heart ached, and she began to withdraw into herself, letting her passion for writing take over.