They say grief is just love with nowhere to go. If that was true, then Allix Nelson was absolutely buried in it. A weight tethered to every heartbeat, drawing each tender heartstring so taut they threatened to snap against the load. In fact, she was almost certain many of them already had, popping like strands on the bow of a violin. The sounds she’d made that night. Brutal, animalistic wails, as she hugged her arms to her chest in a vain attempt to hold herself together against the wave of devastation and tears. Barely able to draw in a single breath between the onslaught. She’d never experienced anything like it before, and if that was the consequence of falling in love, Allix wanted no part of it ever again. Alone in her high school bathroom, fresh tears assailed her and Allix swallowed a muffled cry against the palm of her damp hand. Now was not the time to lose herself to sorrow but she couldn’t stop the torrent. It had only been ten days since she broke up with Eduardo and her heart still ached like a rotting tooth that festered more and more as the days stretched on. “C’mon Allix. Seriously? Get it together…” She faced her reflection—but her warm brown skin and shoulder-length curls were little more than a blurred mess behind a liquid wall of her agony. “Exams start in an hour, you need a solid 98% if you want that scholarship. You need that scholarship.” Her chin stiffened in determination.