The Ties That Bind Us

Author's Note

💓

𝗖𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿

All rights reserved. No part of this book, 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐬, may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior permission of the author.

The characters, events, and places depicted in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This is a work of fiction intended solely for entertainment, and all interpretations of the characters and stories belong to the author.

The author welcomes positive criticism but reserves the right to dismiss unnecessary or overly harsh feedback. By continuing to read this book, the reader agrees to engage with the stories and characters as they are, understanding their fictitious nature and inherent flaws.

© 2024 by Ankita.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

Before you dive into this compilation of short romance stories, I’d like to take a moment to set some expectations.

These tales are fast-paced and sometimes incomplete by design, reflecting moments in time rather than long, drawn-out arcs.

The characters you’ll meet are not perfect—they aren’t meant to be. The female and male protagonists carry their flaws and make mistakes, just like real people. Their decisions, actions, and emotions may not always align with your ideals, but they are fictional and, more importantly, mine.

Some stories may feel as though they fall short of full development, leaving you wanting more. That’s intentional—these are short stories, meant to offer glimpses into relationships and personalities rather than fully fleshed-out sagas. At times, you may feel like a character or plot thread is missing something, but that’s exactly how some of these stories are intended to be experienced: as snapshots of love, heartache, growth, and imperfection.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀. If you’re looking for flawless, saint-like characters, you won’t find them here. These stories are about people who make wrong choices, take on with their emotions, and sometimes break hearts—including their own.

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲:

▪︎The stories may feel unfinished at times, as they are designed to capture key moments rather than entire journeys.

▪︎Characters will act in ways that might frustrate you. Their decisions are not meant to be perfect, moral, or always justifiable—they are simply human.

▪︎The pace of the stories is quick. Some situations will resolve faster than you may expect, but that’s the nature of short fiction.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱. If you find it difficult to bear with flawed characters or quick story arcs that don’t wrap up neatly, this book may not be for you. That said, I welcome positive criticism—thoughtful feedback and insights that can help me grow as a writer are always appreciated. However, please understand that anything beyond constructive feedback won’t be entertained.

If you’re ready to embark on this journey and can embrace the imperfections within these stories, then I invite you to continue reading. If not, that’s okay too—there are plenty of other books out there for you.

Thank you for choosing to spend your time here, and I hope you enjoy these pieces for what they are—imperfect stories of imperfect people.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Lots of Love,

ANKITA