Title: Her
Author: Felicia Johnson
Publication Date: May 22, 2013
Tour
Host: Dreams Come True Promotions
I am excited to bring you this short excerpt from Felicia Johnson's latest book: "Her"
Excerpt:
My
father would probably have killed my
mother. Theresa probably would have still killed
herself, and I probably would have done it, too.”
“Were you scared?”
“At first I was. When I first got here, I thought I
was being punished. Now I see what being a
survivor really is. It’s not giving up. It’s not
running away. It’s getting through whatever it is
you have to get through to make it. It is allowing
you to grow stronger for whatever is coming
next. It is being brave and choosing to live
through it all so that you can share your story
and help others. That’s what a survivor does. I
don’t want to run away anymore. I just want to
live and make things better. My mom wants to
do the same. I tell you, Kristen, Bent Creek may
seem like the worst place to be right now, but
you’ll see. It’s not.”
He looked straight into my eyes and said, “I’ve
watched you.”
My heart started beating fast. He grabbed my
hand gently and looked down at my bandaged
wrists. His fingers traced the fresh tape that Ms.
Mosley had used for the bandages when she’d
changed them this morning. I closed my eyes
and let myself feel this moment between us.
“You seem so sad and regretful. You can’t just
let it out, can you?”
I shook my head. My eyes were still closed. I
felt tears begin to well up in them. There were
no words to describe that moment. His words
and the feelings inside of me were just too
much. The tears poured out from underneath my
eyelids. He squeezed my hands. I jolted, not
afraid, just feeling too much.“Open your eyes,” he said.
I did open my eyes, and his large, beautiful eyes
stared into mine.
“You know how the old people in here always
have something to say to us? And when they
talk, they think they know everything. You
know?” He chuckled a little. Then his smile
disappeared.
“There are things I keep hearing over and over
that I do believe, though. They sound old–
fashioned, and they are definitely cliché. But
remember this, Kristen,” he told me with his
seriously passionate stare. “This too shall pass,
and what doesn’t kill you will make you
stronger.” He paused. “If you let it. Keep your
head up and your eyes open. That’s how you
will survive. If what you go through doesn’t kill
you, let it make you stronger.”
mother. Theresa probably would have still killed
herself, and I probably would have done it, too.”
“Were you scared?”
“At first I was. When I first got here, I thought I
was being punished. Now I see what being a
survivor really is. It’s not giving up. It’s not
running away. It’s getting through whatever it is
you have to get through to make it. It is allowing
you to grow stronger for whatever is coming
next. It is being brave and choosing to live
through it all so that you can share your story
and help others. That’s what a survivor does. I
don’t want to run away anymore. I just want to
live and make things better. My mom wants to
do the same. I tell you, Kristen, Bent Creek may
seem like the worst place to be right now, but
you’ll see. It’s not.”
He looked straight into my eyes and said, “I’ve
watched you.”
My heart started beating fast. He grabbed my
hand gently and looked down at my bandaged
wrists. His fingers traced the fresh tape that Ms.
Mosley had used for the bandages when she’d
changed them this morning. I closed my eyes
and let myself feel this moment between us.
“You seem so sad and regretful. You can’t just
let it out, can you?”
I shook my head. My eyes were still closed. I
felt tears begin to well up in them. There were
no words to describe that moment. His words
and the feelings inside of me were just too
much. The tears poured out from underneath my
eyelids. He squeezed my hands. I jolted, not
afraid, just feeling too much.“Open your eyes,” he said.
I did open my eyes, and his large, beautiful eyes
stared into mine.
“You know how the old people in here always
have something to say to us? And when they
talk, they think they know everything. You
know?” He chuckled a little. Then his smile
disappeared.
“There are things I keep hearing over and over
that I do believe, though. They sound old–
fashioned, and they are definitely cliché. But
remember this, Kristen,” he told me with his
seriously passionate stare. “This too shall pass,
and what doesn’t kill you will make you
stronger.” He paused. “If you let it. Keep your
head up and your eyes open. That’s how you
will survive. If what you go through doesn’t kill
you, let it make you stronger.”
Synopsis:
In many ways, Kristen Elliott is a normal, seventeen-year-old girl.
Kristen loves her family. She works hard academically, and tries to
please her mother. She takes on the additional responsibility of
caring for her twin siblings, Nick and Alison. She idealizes her best
friend, Lexus, who not only seems to lead the perfect life, but also
catches the attention of John, the boy Kristen secretly loves.
However, as is the case with many teenagers, Kristen feels
frustrated, isolated, and confused.
In other ways, Kristen is not like other kids her age. She knows
something is wrong with her. Kristen feels like an utter failure. She
is unable to please her abrasive mother, and scared to confront Jack,
her abusive stepfather. She is also unable to protect Nick from Jack,
making her fell all the more helpless. Adding to her problems, she
knows she will never be as beautiful as her best friend Lexus.
Kristen finds solace in self-injury, and the company of Mr. Sharp,
her imaginary friend who encourages her feelings of self-loathing.
After a failed suicide attempt, Kristen is placed in the Bent Creek
mental hospital, where she is diagnosed with Borderline Personality
Disorder. While in the hospital, she meets a group of peers suffering
with their own mental illnesses, and a compassionate staff of doctors
and counselors. From there, Kristen begins her journey to survival.
She discovers the circumstances that brought her to this breaking
point, struggles to understand her mental illness, and fights to be a
survivor against her own worst enemy: her self-blame.
Kristen’s tale of endurance illustrates the complex illness of
Borderline Personality Disorder. Readers – including those
suffering from BPD and their friends and family – can glean insight
into the illness from Kristen’s humanity. Her story is an example
of how, if we try to push the past away, we are either doomed to
repeat it or let it haunt us to our graves.
About the Author:
Felicia Johnson is a writer, youth mentor, student, and big sister.
She loves ice cream, and seeing her little sister, Laura, smile.
Find the Author:
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