The Selection with Printed Edges - Kate Stewart

This town haunts me, turning me into a different person. And it's clear I’ll never escape Triple Falls, nor will I survive as long as I remain here. I still feel the presence of my summer lovers. Although, when I sensed danger, I succumbed. I ignored every warning. I let my illness—my love—dominate and ruin me. I played my part with wide-open eyes, tempting fate until it released me.

There was no escape. We are all to blame for what happened. Each of us is serving our own sentence. We were careless and reckless, believing that youth made us indestructible, absolving us of sins, and that cost us all.

I no longer want to hide the fact that I left most of myself between these hills and valleys, among the sea of trees that know my secrets. This is why I returned. To make peace with my fate. And if I don’t heal during my time here, I will remain ill. This will be my curse. I must confess that I squandered my chances of doing this because of my nature and how the men in my life changed me. Now I just want to make peace with myself, regardless of the ending of my story. Because I can no longer live a lie.