We Were Ghosts: The Secret Life of a Survivor — Tabitha Barret

When Alicia meets the new guy in school, there is something about the mischievous look in his eyes that implies he's breaking the rules by talking to her. It's the rule abused kids live by - don't let anyone into your life. Don't let them see the real you. She and Zack both have secret lives that only the other can understand. They suffer in silence, afraid that no one will believe them. Can their love for one another help free them from their turbulent lives, if only for a few minutes at a time? Together, can they find the courage and strength to escape from their hidden world of lies and deception in order to live normal lives? Content warnings: This is story is meant to inspire hope in abused teens and young adults, though there are a number of traumatic scenes of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Some scenes may be disturbing for readers.