The Tools

Clara is falling in love for the first time when her mother divorces her father and marries their neighbor. Their neighbor who is Clara’s boyfriend’s dad.   It’s a teenage nightmare.   With her mom gone, Clara has to manage the cooking, cleaning, and keep the house running. Then her boyfriend dumps her, breaking her heart.   Clara is overwhelmed and mad. She skips out on her own life, things like college, convinced her family will fall apart without her. Only once her little

She was independent, a photographer, when they married. Soon, she was pregnant. It was high-risk, forcing her to step back from work. Her expectations of herself changed, as did those of society and her husband. When maternity leave ended, getting work became a battle. So, she had another baby quickly, thinking one return to work must be easier than two.   Her daughter, with special needs, arrived next. Everything changed. Caring for her was the priority. Her son came second.

She is a college student who knows dating well enough to recognize when something is different. This isn’t just attraction; it’s love. They do everything together; cook, read, talk, study, and somehow occupy the same space like it is something profound since it’s theirs. Their connection is both physical and deeply cerebral. “We don’t just have sex,” she says. “We read  The Aeneid  out loud to each other.”   Watching him care about his work reshapes how she sees herself as a

Rocky developed a persistent rash. Her dermatologist couldn’t identify it, so he ordered tests. When the results came back inconclusive, she was referred to specialists for additional testing. Bloodwork, imaging, and new medications, all without clear answers.   Each new result appeared on her online chart before her doctors had time to explain it. Late at night, unable to sleep, Rocky turned to “Dr. Google,” and her anxiety intensified. She found it hard to focus at work, mo

The students at Tiffin Academy, a prestigious boarding school, are nothing like new student Charley’s classmates back home. She’s still figuring out how to fit in among people whose lives seem straight out of an Instagram feed of the rich and famous.   Take Davi. With 1.3 million followers and a lineup of corporate sponsors, Davi isn’t just a peer, she’s an international influencer. During breaks, she lives in London with her parents, founders of a luxury fashion label. Her f

Jane spent her childhood in near complete isolation. She and her father lived in a remote cabin in Montana, far from the conveniences and connections of urban life. Their lifestyle was intentionally off the grid, with limited interaction with the outside world. Occasionally, Jane and her father would travel into town. These rare visits allowed Jane to maintain contact with her one close friend, offering her brief glimpses of a broader social environment.   Her father was her