Daring Escape

Seventeen-year-old skateboarder Darlyn Williams was a caring fixer, living in a single-wide trailer at the Pink Flamingo Trailer Park in North Florida, with an abusive father, hard-working mother, and a near-empty refrigerator.

Frustrated because life isn’t fair, Darlyn wants to make a difference in the world, but first she must escape the family trailer without leaving her mother in a dangerous situation. When her intoxicated father attacks her mother, like a butterfly making its painful escape from the cocoon, the injured Darlyn is forced to flee her trailer home to get help to save her mother.

To make matters worse, Darlyn blames herself for not recognizing the signs that her lab partner, Marisol, planned to take her own life. She and Marisol’s best friend create a support group as part of their school-required community project. In an unexpected twist, Darlyn has a second chance to save a friend. Will she succeed?

Darlyn’s experiences with her parents’ marriage convinced her she does not want to be involved in a romantic relationship. But can she resist when the walking-wounded Colt appears in her hospital room? Are his featherlight kisses on her forehead irresistible and enticing, or more trouble than she dares to accept?

This heart-wrenching story is told by the young adult, Darlyn in hopes that others might learn, heal, and grow into healthy adults from her lessons.