Dear Reader,
You picked up this book, perhaps drawn in by a captivating cover and a promising description. Thank you for indulging a little curiosity. I suspect you might already be aware of the pitfalls of voice void’s early days – a time when unpolished, adolescent stories flooded the platform.
This one is no exception.
I wrote this story long ago, a relic of middle school days, before the world felt quite so…defined. Revisiting it now feels like peering into a distorted mirror. The initial reaction wasn’t admiration, but a cringe-inducing realization: “Oh god, this is terrible.” I genuinely believed it was good, then discovered it wasn’t. My ego took a beating, a swift incineration.
But despite its flaws, I couldn’t bring myself to delete it. There’s something about Harper and Alec, the characters at its heart, that resonated even then. Harper is grounded, genuinely good. Alec is endearingly awkward, playful, and utterly charming. I loved them.
I owe a debt of gratitude to two incredibly patient readers, @pattachan and @spratleymac. They were kind enough to offer encouragement on this dreadful manuscript, and I couldn’t bear to waste their time by simply abandoning it. Their support, their willingness to overlook the flaws, meant the world.
So, despite plot holes and unnecessary characters, I decided to publish everything I have. I'm aware that I'm prone to tangents and unnecessary details, but that's a remnant of a younger, idealistic version of myself. A version obsessed with minor details.
As you read, you may find yourself asking why I've included this prologue at all. It’s not the mature Lorraine of today, but the middle schooler who dreamed of romance and fixated on trivialities.
If you choose to continue, thank you. I ask only that you vote on each chapter, and perhaps leave a comment. This book is so bad it needs all the encouragement it can get. It's suitable for most audiences, though it contains a few mild swear words.
Add it to your "Terrible Books" reading list, or, if you're feeling generous, consider adding it to your regular list. I would be eternally grateful.
Thank you.
xx, Rain