There are a lot of metaphors that jump to mind when talking about life. The one that always spoke to me the most was stories.What is a person, if not the culmination of stories told to them? What is a personality, if not a story one tells others about themselves.How many strokes it takes until a life topples over?Contained in this volume are such stories. They are stories of growing up in a hostile world, trying to find a branch to hold on to keep sane.Ultimately, they are stories of failed attempts at survival.For what are stories, if not a flickering lifeline to sanity?Content warning: Self-harm, underage drinking, addiction, mentions of SA.