**Chapter 1: The Unwanted Journey**

Lily's eyes stung as she gazed out the car window, the endless stretch of highway blurring together like a watercolor painting. Her stomach churned with every bump in the road, and her mind reeled with the events that had led her to this moment. Just a week ago, she was a carefree teenager, enjoying her summer break and sneaking around with her girlfriend, Emily. But that all came crashing down when her parents discovered their relationship. Lily's parents, devout Christians, had been adamant that their daughter's attraction to girls was a phase, a mistake that needed to be corrected. They had enrolled her in a "therapeutic" camp, claiming it would help her overcome her "sin." The camp, called Restoration Ranch, promised to "cure" her of her same-sex attraction and make her the obedient, God-fearing daughter they wanted her to be. As the car turned off the highway onto a dirt road, Lily's anxiety spiked. The trees grew taller and closer together here, casting deep shadows that seemed to swallow her whole. She felt like she was being swallowed by the very darkness she was trying to escape. The car finally pulled up to a large, rustic gate with a sign that read "Restoration Ranch" in bold letters. A counselor, a stern-looking woman with a clipboard, greeted them and led Lily to a waiting van. As she climbed aboard, Lily caught a glimpse of her parents' guilt-ridden faces before they drove away, leaving her behind. The van ride was a blur of winding roads and awkward silences. Lily was the only girl among a group of rowdy boys, all of whom seemed to be staring at her with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, trying to avoid their gaze. As the van pulled up to a large cabin, Lily's heart sank. The building loomed over her, its wooden exterior seeming to loom like a prison. She was greeted by a counselor named Ms. Jenkins, who showed her to a dormitory room shared with several other girls. As she was unpacking, Lily noticed a girl with piercing blue eyes and short, messy brown hair sitting on the edge of a bed, staring blankly at the wall. The girl looked just as lost and scared as Lily felt. "Hey," Lily said softly, trying to break the ice. The girl turned, and their eyes met. For a moment, they just stared at each other, a connection sparking between them. "I'm Lily," she said, extending a hand. The girl took it, her handshake firm. "I'm Megan." Lily smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope in this desolate place. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't alone after all.