**Chapter 1: Fractured Reality**

Ashley Frangipane trudged through the front door of her family's small New Jersey home, her worn-out sneakers scuffling against the faded welcome mat. The sound of cartoon characters and children's music drifted from the living room, where her youngest brother, Dante, was engrossed in his favorite TV show. Her older brother, Sevian, was sprawled on the couch, his eyes glued to his phone. Ashley's parents, Chris and Nicole, were nowhere to be seen, but the faint smell of stale beer and yesterday's Chinese takeout wafted from the kitchen, giving away Chris's whereabouts. Ashley dropped her backpack onto the floor, the weight of her unopened textbooks and crumpled papers a constant reminder of her struggles in senior year. She was failing classes, and her guidance counselor had all but given up on her. Ashley's mind often wandered to the reasons behind her failures – her parents' constant arguing, her father's drinking, and her mother's depression. It was a never-ending cycle of chaos at home, and Ashley felt like she was drowning in it. As she made her way to the kitchen to grab a snack, Ashley caught a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror. Her long, curly brown hair was tied up in a messy bun, and her bright green eyes looked tired. She hadn't slept well the night before, her mind racing with thoughts of her impending math test and the argument she'd had with her mom earlier that day. Ashley opened the fridge, searching for leftovers or something, anything, to eat. The shelves were almost bare, a reflection of her parents' financial struggles. Chris's drinking had taken a toll on their household income, and Nicole's depression made it difficult for her to hold down a job. Just as Ashley was about to close the fridge, Sevian appeared beside her, his eyes fixed on his phone. "Ash, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice low. Ashley's instincts kicked in, and she felt a sense of unease. Sevian was 14, and Ashley had always been protective of him and Dante. She followed him to her room, wondering what was on his mind. Sevian closed the door behind him and held out Ashley's phone. "I was looking for my charger, and I saw this," he said, his eyes wide with concern. Ashley's heart sank as she realized Sevian had been snooping through her phone. She tried to grab it from him, but he held back. "Ash, what's going on? You're on some kind of chat site... with a guy... and there's stuff... some pretty explicit stuff." Ashley's face burned with shame and embarrassment. She had been struggling to cope with her emotions, and her actions online were a cry for help, a desperate attempt to escape her reality. She knew she had to face Sevian, but a part of her wanted to run away and hide. "Sev, please understand," Ashley began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just... really stressed, and I didn't know how to deal with it." Sevian's expression softened, but his eyes still held a deep concern. "Ash, you need help. Mom and Dad... they're not exactly... functioning right now." Ashley's gaze dropped, and she knew Sevian was right. Their parents were struggling, and Ashley felt like she was drowning in their problems. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. As she looked up at Sevian, Ashley knew that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine. The question was, in what direction would it take her?