Clean Slate

By: Alyssa Lastella

Narrated by: Lexie Schmidt

After an unexpected tragedy strikes, Dylan Fields struggles with what his life has become, despite the support system that he has around him. Leaving the most important people in his life behind, he flees to the opposite side of the country in order to escape everything that reminds him of his late little sister. Being all alone in a new place to deal with his broken heart seems intriguing to Dylan, but he doesn't realize until he's on the plane that escaping the memory of Natalie might be harder than he thought.

On the plane, he meets Ellie, a girl who is fighting battles of her own as her past tries to control her. Dylan and Ellie find simplicity in bonding over the things that they don't want to talk about. Their conversations remain comfortably shallow, and the two prefer small talk so that their designated touchy subjects don't come up. Getting a better understanding of how the other's past has shaped who they are, the two grow closer. While they help each other deal with their struggles and cope with their new lives, they find themselves falling in love with the first person that they feel understands them and their stories.

In the midst of helping each other face the darkness and find their individual ways out of it, Dylan and Ellie manage to break down each other's walls and fall for each other, making facing things much more manageable. Together, the two discover that no matter what life throws at you, having someone who understands you by your side, makes everything that much easier.

©2020 Alyssa Lastella (P)2021 Alyssa Lastella