Prologue
Most people don’t remember the moment their life ended. I do.
I was ten years old when I learned that nothing lasts forever—not family, not love, not even the lie I told myself. I could’ve run then, could’ve made myself disappear and never looked back. But that’s not how it works.
You stay to survive
So, I kept playing the game, kept pretending like it wasn’t eating me alive from the inside out. Because in the end, no one wants the truth, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to give it to them.
One thing I’ve learned: People will see what they want to see.
They’ll smile at you like everything’s fine, ignore the cracks in your façade, and keep living their lives without ever looking too closely . They’ll tell you things will get better, that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, but they’re lying to themselves just as much as you are. And I’m no fool. I know the truth, even if I can’t say it out loud.
I’ve learned to play my part, to wear my mask with pride, and to hide the pieces of myself I can’t put back together. It’s not about winning or losing anymore—it’s about surviving the game, even if that means leaving a part of you behind with each step. People don’t understand that. They don’t understand that sometimes, just staying alive is victory enough.
So, I stay. I lie. I survive. When the world moves on, I’ll still be here, picking up the pieces they don’t see falling apart. Because I’m Kade Lee. And I’m not your typical, young adult, celebrity.
